Read Tides of Love (Seaswept Seduction Series) for Free Online Page B

nudging hers, much too close for comfort.
    In her haste, she stumbled over the bricks lining the walkway.
    Taking advantage of her misstep, he grasped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. "You must be happier than you've ever been in your life. Noah Garrett back in town, and this time, you're old enough to cause real trouble. I applaud your efforts to keep yourself ready and available. I hear he's living in the widow's coach house. How convenient."
    Her palm cracked his cheek with enough force to send him staggering. "Get out."
    "Now, dear—"
    "You heard her, Leland. Get out. Before I allow myself to get angry."
    Magnus's hand paused halfway to his face. He swiveled around, his bark of laugher splitting the air. "My word, Garrett, how has our little Marielle survived without you?"
    Noah had Magnus by the collar of his studded shirt before Elle drew her next breath. "I'm accosted often on the streets of Chicago, Leland. Trust me, you don't want to know what I've had to learn to protect myself."
    Magnus craned his head, struggling to look his opponent in the eye.
    "Have a care, Leland." Noah clenched his hand, his muscles flexing beneath his orderly cuff.
    "You'd better take that advice as well, my friend." Magnus shoved Noah's arm aside, storming from the yard without another word.
    Noah watched him go, then muttered an oath beneath his breath and stalked in the other direction.
    She snatched his rucksack from the edge of the walkway and ran after him. She had never seen Noah use his hands for anything violent, unless you counted the lists he had made for Caleb detailing ways to solve problems without using violence. "I have no idea what bramble is stuck in Magus's paw," she said, struggling to hoist the rucksack over her shoulder.
    He shot her a furious side glance, his gaze doing a slow burn. "No idea? Jesus, Elle, you're the bramble." He grabbed the rucksack and began to climb the coach house staircase. "You're everyone's bramble."
    "Magnus and I broke off our"—she lifted her skirt above her ankles and scrambled after him—"our engagement months ago. Besides, why should he be mad? He made it very clear that the decision was his and his alone. Embarrassingly clear."
    Noah stopped abruptly. Her head thumped him right between the shoulder blades, and the newspaper she had forgotten she held fluttered to the step.
    He stooped and smoothed the newsprint over his knee, his head moving as he read. "Were you sorry?" he finally asked, his gaze lifting.
    "Sorry about what?"
    He adjusted his silver-rimmed spectacles. Behind glass, she saw that his eyes had cooled. "Sorry Leland ended the engagement."
    Tell him yes. What better way to show Noah Garrett you haven't been pining after him for ten years? "I was terribly distraught. The entire situation nearly broke my heart. I looked so forward to being Mrs. Magnus Leland." Her voice cracked hard on the last word.
    The muscles in his shoulders tensed; he shoved to his feet. "You're a terrible liar, Elle. Truly dreadful. Scares me to think you would waste a chance at marriage because of a silly"—he nudged the coach house door open with his elbow and ducked through the entrance—" infatuation when we were children."
    She slapped the door wide when he would have shut it in her face. "Why you arrogant, boorish—" Her words caught in her throat.
    Stacks of books covered every surface. The desk, the leather chair and ottoman, the faded settee that had once been dark magenta.
    Cautiously, she strolled to the desk. She hadn't seen this many books since the long nights spent in the university library. She recalled rows and rows of chestnut shelves, covert laughter, and the smell of dust. The thrill of learning, of taking control of her life for the first time; sadly, the only time. Burying the burst of longing, she hefted a leather-bound volume as thick as her wrist. "Depths of the Sea," she read and fingered the gold tassel marking the page. "This is magnificent, Noah." She turned the vellum