Read Midnight Kiss for Free Online Page A

imperfection was the slight tossing the wind was giving his hair, and that only made him look casually rumpled. He looked out of place standing in the middle of her yard with one foot firmly planted in a bushel basket. “Do you make a habit out of rescuing ladies from endless raking?”
    Thane ran his gaze over her wrinkled sweater and tight jeans. “No, this is a special service reserved for an elite few.” Considering this was the first time, he wasn’t going to tell her how few.
    Autumn suppressed the joy his statement had sent rushing to her heart. She liked being linked to the word elite , but the few had to go. She had never cared for being lumped with others, and she especially didn’t care for being lumped with a bunch of women by Thane. “Did you stop by to find out about the Halloween party?”
    Mesmerized by a streak of dirt across her cheek, he absently asked, “Halloween party?”
    Autumn hid her smile. “Fifty-two residents, ghosts, and a certain doctor who wants to make sure we all behave ourselves.”
    Thane felt a flush sweep up his neck as he hastily started to rake another pile of leaves. What in the hell had happened to his brains? They seemed to have turned to mush at the sight of her luscious lips and the sweet curve of her cheek. “Let’s take care of these leaves before it gets dark, and then we can discuss the Halloween party.”
    Autumn was bewildered by Thane’s sudden change of mood. It was just like the night on the porch. One minute he was sweet and tender and the next he put more distance between them than if he were a strict Quaker.
    She was bending to scoop up the pile Thane had raked when a gust of wind whipped through the yard. At the same moment, Thane and Autumn dove for the full basket before it was blown empty. They collided.
    Thane felt the wind knocked out of him as Autumn’s shoulder crashed into his diaphragm. The basket was forgotten as he landed flat on his back.
    Autumn quickly forgot the pain shooting from her shoulder and stared down at Thane in horror. “Oh, Lord, I’m sorry.” She bent over him. “Are you all right?”
    Thane kept his eyes closed as he gulped in much-needed air. What was she wearing, concrete shoulder pads? He knew she had to be in good physical condition from police work, but he hadn’t expected such power. Their collision had only thrown her off balance for a moment while he’d ended up kissing the dirt.
    “Thane, answer me!” She leaned in closer as his eyelids fluttered and a low groan rumbled in his chest. Concerned, she started to kneel down and reached out to feel his forehead.
    He snuck a peak at her under his lashes, and in a flash his hand snaked out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her as he rolled away.
    Crisp, dry leaves cushioned her fall. Her laughter filled the air as she turned onto her back, flinging an armload of leaves at Thane. “That was a rotten thing to do.”
    His face looming above hers, and he smiled in triumph as he brushed off his sweater. “Yes, it was, but you deserved it.” His fingers were gentle as they swept back a mass of curls from her face and tenderly wiped the dirt off her cheek.
    Autumn felt his warmth against her cold cheeks. “Here I had you pegged for a gentleman.”
    “Ah, but I am a gentleman.” His gray eyes darkened with desire as he gazed hungrily at her lips. “If I weren’t such a gentleman, I’d be kissing you right now.”
    Autumn’s lips parted with a sigh. Finally! “Thane, don’t be a gentleman.”
    He picked a leaf from her hair. Was there a goddess of fall? Why hadn’t he paid more attention in school when mythology was covered? Autumn looked like a goddess wearing a halo of golden leaves. Her hair shone with a fiery brilliance in the late afternoon sunlight. Eyes the color of spring grass turned a deeper green as he slowly ran his thumb over her lower lip. He had never kissed a goddess before. Hell, he hadn’t even known goddesses existed. His head lowered to taste a