Read Fools Rush In for Free Online

shower of sparks shooting up the chimney. The fire hissed and popped, and Erin jumped.
    Cursing under her breath, she dabbed at the drops of wine that had sloshed onto her slacks.
    Her nerves were eating her alive. From that eerie moment just before Elise's frantic call, the dreadful, uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach had been growing. Call it intuition, telepathy, ESP—whatever—that strange, mystical communication that had always existed between her and her twin was working full throttle. Every instinct Erin possessed was screaming "Find her! Find her!"
    But how? Global Imports, and Max, had seemed her best leads—her only leads—but she was no closer to locating her sister now than when she had walked into the office.
    And to add to her worries, she hadn't the faintest idea how she was going to handle Max.
    The scene was certainly set for seduction, Erin thought with a wry grimace, glancing around the large living room. The lights were so low that she could barely make out the massive Spanish armoire by the entrance, and the wrought-iron etagere filled with Indian artifacts set against the far wall was just a hulking shadow. The wine was crisp and cool and the small fire romantic, casting a mellow glow over the polished tile floor and the scattering of Navaho rugs. Music drifted from hidden speakers in the dim corners of the room. Ravel's Bolero, Erin registered—soft, sensual, soul-stirring, the building strains so subtly, relentlessly arousing.
    The niggling doubt that had been worrying Erin all evening grew stronger as she watched Max rise and return the poker to its stand. He stretched, flexing his shoulders and arching his back in a slow, sinuous movement that made his muscles ripple beneath the pale blue knit shirt. Erin's mouth went suddenly dry. Could Elise have resisted a man with that potent combination of charm, good looks and sex appeal? Tommy Holman had been a great guy, and nice looking in a clean-cut all-American way, but he couldn't hold a candle to Max. It was like comparing a tabby cat to a mountain lion.
    Max turned and caught her staring. Hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his low-riding jeans, he sauntered toward her with loose-limbed grace. Even in the dimness there was no mistaking the warm, intent look on his face.
    You're in trouble, Erin, she told herself shakily. This is the man your sister loves. Even if he weren't, you barely know him, for heaven's sake. You've got to call a halt, somehow, before things get out of hand.
    Max sat down beside her and turned at an angle, draping his arm along the sofa back. With one finger he touched her upper arm, drawing a tiny circle on her bare skin. "I missed you," he murmured, and the finger trailed upward, skimming over the narrow tank top and leaving a line of fire across her shoulder and the side of her neck.
    A delicate shudder rippled through Erin, and her breathing grew shallow. Maybe she should just tell him the truth, she reflected. Surely Max couldn't be involved in anything nefarious. He hadn't done or said anything in the least suspicious all evening, and it was obvious that the only thing on his mind was seduction.
    She had herself halfway convinced when his next words brought her doubts flooding back.
    "What did you do while I was gone?"
    She looked at him sharply, her heart beginning to pound. "Do?"
    "Hmm. Anything I should know about?" He traced the velvety rim of her ear, then twined a bright curl around his finger. "Anything you want to tell me?"
    "Why..." She paused and licked her lips. "Why do you ask?"
    Inclining his head, he brushed his open mouth back and forth over the curve of her shoulder, dewing it with his breath. "Well," he murmured against her skin, "I could say that as your boss, I need to keep abreast of what's going on.. .but actually..." With intense concentration, he worked his way up over her shoulder and neck. "... the real reason is..."
    Erin held her breath and waited, unconsciously arching her neck to