A New Day by Nancy Hopper Read Free Book Online Page B

drawled.  “I might even change my mind, and take that kiss you were offering.” he threatened softly.
         “ The hell you will!” she snarled, but his lips silenced her.
         Tasha was enveloped by a warmth that jolted her to her toenails.  It left her aching in the pit of her stomach, and caused her pulse to flutter. 
         His lips had a caressing quality that Tasha had never felt before.  A gentleness invaded her against her will, touching her deeply.  Yet, there was an underlying fire in Gary that scorched and made her long to pull away. 
         Gary drew her body closer against his own.  She inhaled the essence of him; his fragrance, masculine and strong; and suddenly, her knees were going weak beneath her.
         Reluctantly, Gary ended the kiss and pressed her head to his shoulder.  His fingers spread warmth into her head.  “You see, I don’t really bite.” he said in a whisper.
         “ Well, I do .”  she hissed in a shaky voice that perversely, made her companion want to chuckle.  She pushed away with all her might, and stumbled unsteadily down the path toward the beach.  Gary grinned and followed her.  He fell in step as she reached the deep sand of the main beach, and stormed along as best she could in her completely beach-inappropriate heels.  He just let the silence carry on, until Tasha was ready to break it.
         At last she did, turning to square off and glare at him with a sudden spin of her tiny feet.  “Boy, you take the cake!” she roared up at him.  “You listen to me, Gary Taylor, I want you to leave me alone.  I hate you and you’re a boring deadbeat, and you’re not my type!”
         Gary flinched in mock anguish, and rocked back on his heels.  “Wow.  You don’t mince words.  Well, suppose I tell you I don’t really give a damn.  What are you gonna do then?”
         “ You stop kissing me!” she demanded, bellowing in frustration.
         “ Ah .  Kissing is only okay when it suits your mood, eh?” he mused thoughtfully.
         “ Just what do you mean by that?” she hissed indignantly.
         “ Last night you sure wanted me to kiss you.”  he laughed.  “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that teasing a man is dangerous, Tasha?  By gosh, you might just find one that doesn’t turn off when you’re done playing with him.” he said evenly.  “I won’t be used by you, Tasha.  Do you think I can’t see you trying to manipulate me?  How stupid do you think I am?”
         “ So you’re not attracted to me at all?” she shouted.  “You just wanted to get back at me?  Is that the story you’re trying to feed me now?”
         Gary looked at her evenly.  “No.  I’m not particularly attracted to you.”  he admitted.
         Tasha sucked in her breath angrily.  He was serious!  She thought she saw pity in his eyes.  That, she could not stand!
         “ Of course, you're very pretty, Tasha; just not really my type.  But that doesn’t mean we have to be enemies.” he suggested, offering her a lopsided smile.
         “ Get real.” she hissed.  She turned and started walking down the beach, her hands balled in her pockets.  It galled her terribly that she seemed to be more affected by him, than he was by her.  That was certainly a first!
         It took a lot of walking before Tasha began to cool off.  She made sure she stayed well ahead of Gary, and he didn't seem to mind, at all.  He just walked along with his hands in his pockets, whistling and looking out at the water, and strolling slowly.  Paying her no mind whatsoever.
         Finally, she had to stop and take off her sandals.  She was beginning to rub blisters from the difficult walk in the sand.  He caught up with her, when she did.
         “ Are you hungry?” he asked in that kind of friendly, detached voice.
         “ No.”  she snapped.
         “ Well, I am.  We should head back,