Read Untamed Desire for Free Online Page A

Stepping past him, she smiled demurely and opened the door for him. “After you,” she said, barely able to keep the laughter from her voice.
    Jim’s lips twitched as he walked past her. In no time they were seated and looking over the menu.
    “You’re from Seattle originally?” he asked.
    Storm nodded. “Yes. At this particular place I’d recommend the king crab legs or the lobster.”
    One eyebrow rose in response, and he closed the menu. “Champagne taste. Dan likes us to watch our tabs when we’re out on business.”
    His chiding tone made her angry. “Well, hamburger, then.”
    “My, you are a touchy woman,” he breathed softly.
    “I am not,” she hissed, leaning across the table, her cheeks flushed. “You tell me I can’t have steak or seafood—so what’s left? You’re infuriating!”
    The waiter came, and Storm sat back abruptly, arms folded across her chest, livid with rage. Jim looked up at her as if they were having a friendly conversation. “The lady and I will have the king crab.”
    The minute the waiter left, she leaned forward, both elbows on the white tablecloth. “You are an impossible person!”
    He slowly unfolded his napkin, all the time watching her with a peculiar glint in his gray eyes. “Do you know how lovely you look when you’re angry? I think I’ll tease you more often.” He allowed a hint of a smile to show, smoothing the cloth out over his thighs and then clasping his hands over the plate in front of him.
    “Are you deliberately baiting me?” she snapped.
    Jim shrugged. “No.”
    “Then why did you tell me we couldn’t have steak or seafood?”
    “Because I thought the bill would go on our expense accounts. Then I decided to buy you dinner since you were looking so fondly at the crab.”
    Storm jerked her own napkin open and flung it on her lap. “Like hell you will. I’m taking nothing, absolutely nothing, from you, Talbot. Do you hear me?”
    He grinned. “Loud and clear. Now settle down, will you? Everyone in the restaurant is watching you.”
    She took a quick drink of water, hoping the ice would chill her anger. It didn’t help, but she managed to keep silent.
    “That’s better,” he murmured. After a moment the salad arrived, and he became engrossed in eating. Storm glared at him, then stabbed at the lettuce and tomato. The silence lengthened between them, and she deliberately shut out any awareness of him, allowing only the sounds of clinking silverware to reach her.
    “Tell me,” he said softly, “with a temper like yours, how did your marriage last four years?”
    Storm looked up, stunned by his warm tone. “What?”
    “Your ex-husband must have been one of two things. Either he was a metrosexual or he railroaded you until you started fighting back. Which was it?”
    She put down her fork, wiping her mouth and watching him warily. “Why do you want to know?”
    “I’m interested in what makes you tick, that’s all.”
    She considered the comment, studying him like a mongoose watches a King Cobra ready to strike. If she trusted her instinct, he was sincere. But until now, they’d disagreed at every turn. How could he possibly be interested in her?
    “Good guess. It was the second one,” she admitted, and then turned her attention back to the salad, uncomfortable at his ability to figure her out.
    “You remind me of a sleek air force jet, so much volatile, deadly power. The wrong kind of pressure on the stick will cause it to destroy itself,” he said equably.
    “Thanks—I think.”
    Jim smiled. “Hey, that was a compliment. Not everyone can fly a jet. It’s a delicate, fragile instrument armed with massive engines and unbelievable power. You’re the same way. I can see where most men would either be destroyed by your energy or they’d try to break your spirit. “His voice lowered, and he reached across the table to take her hand. “A man shouldn’t have to break your spirit to tame you.”
    Storm could only stare wordlessly