A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton Read Free Book Online Page B

staff is amazing, and I feel like I’m doing something important. I can’t imagine how worried these parents are, having to leave their little ones while they go off to work. I like to think I can ease their minds a little, knowing their babies are being well taken care of.”
    He took a long swallow of beer. She liked watching the way his throat worked, liked the beard stubble on his jaw, wondered what that would feel like on her face—and other parts of her body.
    Again, that abrupt flash of heat scored her from the inside out.
    She really should stop thinking of sex, especially sex with Wyatt. Especially when Wyatt sat less than a foot away from her. His fear that she might pounce on him? Not too far from the truth.
    He laid his empty beer can on the table. She got up.
    “I’ll get you another.”
    He grabbed her hand. “I know where your fridge is. I can get myself another beer if I want one. You don’t have to wait on me.”
    “I don’t mind.”
    He released her hand and she hurried into the kitchen. What she really needed was a minute or two to catch her breath. She opened the refrigerator, letting the cool air bathe her face. She took a deep breath to calm down her riotous libido.
    Geez, Calliope. You aren’t sixteen anymore. Get a grip.
    She stood, closed the door and turned around, then gasped when she found Wyatt standing right there.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked.
    “Wondering what the hell you’re doing. Hell of a time to take inventory of the fridge, don’t you think?”
    “Oh. Uh. That wasn’t what I was doing.”
    He placed his palm on the refrigerator door, right next to her shoulder. “Yeah? What were you doing?”
    “Looking for this, of course.” She handed him the beer.
    He took it from her. “You’re a little odd, Calliope.”
    “I prefer quirky.” She skirted around him and headed back into the living room, conscious of him right on her heels.
    Wasn’t this what she wanted? Him going after her?
    So why was she suddenly so skittish?
    Likely because she was out of practice. It wasn’t like she had a parade of men chasing after her. Going after Wyatt was one thing, because she was pretty sure he wasn’t going to take the bait.
    Now that he seemed interested? Yeah, that was another story.
    He was a lot of man. Could she handle him?
    She blew out a breath and stared at the brandy.
    “Calliope.”
    She lifted her gaze to his. “Yes?”
    “Would you like me to take off?”
    She shook her head. “No. I don’t want you to leave.”
    “This is uncomfortable for you. For me, too.”
    Damn. She’d screwed it up. She’d hesitated. But she wasn’t a quitter. She leaned forward. “I’m not used to having men over.”
    “Ever?”
    “Uh…no.” She’d never brought a guy to her house. It was too…intimate. Of course she’d had sex at college, and there had been Steve’s apartment. Then there was that one time at the motel with Bobby. But no, she’d never brought a man here. She’d never had a long-term relationship because no guy had been…keepable.
    “So you’re a virgin.”
    Her head shot up. “I am not.”
    His lips quirked. “Yeah, I can tell you’re full of experience.” He got up and went into the kitchen.
    Irritated now, she followed. “You can’t tell anything about my…experience.”
    He tossed his empty beer can in the trash, then turned to face her. “Honey, you’re like a lamb facing down a wolf.”
    She quirked a brow. “And you’re the big bad wolf, I suppose?”
    He grinned. “You got it.”
    “You think I can’t handle you?”
    “I know you can’t handle me.”
    “Try me.”
    He laughed and moved past her. “I don’t think so.”
    Now she was pissed. He was treating her like a child. “You prefer more experienced women.”
    “I don’t want any woman.”
    “You lie. Ever since we met up again you’ve been dancing around your attraction to me. But because I’m Cassie’s sister, you’ve held back because you’ve got some