Read Crossing the Line (The Baltimore Banners Book 1) for Free Online Page B

was...
         AJ bit back a moan and willed her breathing to return to normal. There was no way Alec should be affecting her like this. No way. Yeah, he was attractive...well, no, actually, he was gorgeous, but...No, she was not attracted to him. She couldn't be.
         "You can open your eyes now, I'm done."
         "Huh?"
         "I said, I'm done. I'm not going to poke you anymore."
         "Oh. Uh, okay." AJ bit back another moan as he released her hand and stepped away. At least she could breathe normally now. Sort of. "So...what are you doing here, anyway?"
         "I came to pick you up. Are you packed?"
         "What?"
         "I said, are you packed? Are you sure you didn't hit your head this morning?"
         "No I didn't hit my head!" AJ stood up, hoping for any small advantage to help her out. For some reason, she was having trouble understanding anything Alec was saying. The feeling was disconcerting and left her more than a little rattled. "Why would I be packed?"
         "Your interview. You won the bet, right?"
         "Well, yeah, but...what do I have to pack for?" AJ knew she sounded dim-witted and she hated that, hated playing into the perception too many people had about her based on her appearance, but she honestly had no idea what Alec was talking about.
         "The bet was that if you won, you had me for a month, twenty-four/seven. So unless you plan on wearing...that," he motioned at her from head-to-toe, the expression on his face almost comical, "for the next month, you should go pack."
         "But pack for what? Where is it I'm supposed to be going?"
         Alec took a step toward her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. For a quick second, looking down at her like that, he seemed so much taller, so much bigger. But it was just an illusion, gone when AJ blinked. He had turned away already and was strolling down the short hallway to her bedroom.
         "You're going home with me. How else did you expect this to work?"
         AJ's mouth dropped open at his words, but thankfully he couldn’t see how off-guard he caught her—he was already in her bedroom, out of her sight. She stood frozen for a few seconds then raced down the hallway after him, his words not making any sense.
         "But...hey! What are you doing?" AJ closed the distance to her dresser and pulled the clothing from his hand, inwardly wincing when she realized he was going through her underwear drawer. She stuffed the lace undergarments back in the drawer and slammed it shut, trying hard to keep her mind focused on something other than Alec Kolchak's large hands caressing her lingerie. Not that he had been caressing them, but still...
         "I am not going home with you. Don't be ridiculous."
         "Then how were you going to accomplish this thing?"
         "Thing? Thing? It's an interview, Kolchak, not a 'thing'. And I was going to do it like every other interview: by asking you questions. That's how these 'things' usually work."
         Alec raised one brow at her then slowly smiled and nodded. Before she realized it, he was sitting on the edge of her bed, his hands loosely clasped between his spread legs as he stared up at her. The sight of him on her bed, of his lopsided grin and the day-old stubble on his jaw, sent more crazy thoughts through her mind, which made her wince. What was with her lately? This was Alec Kolchak, her annoying roadblock to her fantasy job. Since when did she look at him as anything else?
         "So then ask."
         "Huh?"
         "I said, then ask. You're the reporter. Interview me."
         "I can't interview you right now!"
         "Why not? That's what you do, isn't it?"
         "Yes, but—"
         "Then do it."
         "I..." AJ's voice faded and she clamped her lips so tightly together they almost hurt. She mentally counted to five then let out a deep and exasperated breath. "I cannot interview you while you're sitting on my