Belonging to Taylor by Kay Hooper Read Free Book Online

"Well, I'd be a dandy asset for a lawyer, because I could tell you in a minute who was guilty. And then there's the fact that you'd never have to explain why you were going to be late for dinner. And we'd never fight over—um—crossed signals, because I'd always know what you meant, no matter what you said."
    He found himself torn somewhere between fascination and horror. "I'd never be able to call my soul my own!" he objected, half laughing and more than half serious.
    "Wouldn't you?" Her arms lifted to encircle his neck, and she smiled at him very gently. "But you'd be able to call my soul yours."
    Trevor was having trouble thinking clearly; the soft promises in those vivid blue eyes overpowered everything else. "I... could never be as sure about you as you could be about me," he murmured.
    "Then I'll just have to teach you to read my mind."
    He realized at that moment that he could read her mind, or at least read the intent in her nakedly honest eyes. "You wouldn't—you little witch," he managed, and he wasn't talking about her teaching him telepathy.
    "I wouldn't?" She leaned toward him until their lips were just a whisper away. "Watch me."
    Trevor was a strong-willed man and, at times, a stubborn one, but not even the stern inner voice clamoring for self-preservation had the power to keep his arms from encircling her and his lips from responding to hers. And this time he didn't draw away when he felt that incredible warm sense of well-being surrounding him. The insidious warmth lulled him, seduced him, until it blazed suddenly into essential need. His mouth slanted across hers hungrily, demanding what she gave willingly.
    "Daddy kisses Mother like that," an interested voice observed.
    The intruding voice drew them apart, but reluctantly, and both turned their heads to stare toward the doorway, where Jessie watched them with critical eyes.
    "As a matter of fact," she added, "he just kissed her like that in the garden. I think it was because she caught him pouring the coffee on the flowers. But, guess what? They said I could compete if I wanted to! Isn't that wonderful? I have to practice!"
    Chapter Four
    Since Jessie began at once to practice with fierce concentration, Trevor and Taylor were more or less forced to vacate the room. Taylor went upstairs to change before beginning dinner, while Trevor was gruffly asked by Dory to retrieve the hamster shut up in the laundry room. Jack was safely back in his cage when Taylor returned to the den, and she entered just in time to hear Trevor addressed by her mother.
    "Thank you for encouraging Jessie, Trevor," Sara told him in an absent tone. "She never believes us."
    "She's very talented," Trevor responded. He listened for a moment to the sounds coming from those talented fingers. "I think you have a virtuoso blooming in there."
    "Yes, and so nice for her," Sara said vaguely, then turned to Taylor. "Darling, I got some things for dinner and left them in the kitchen."
    "All right, Mother." Taylor didn't wince visibly, but her vivid blue eyes threw a pained, laughing glance at Trevor, explained only when they were alone again in the kitchen.
    "The last time Mother 'got some things' for dinner," she told him ruefully, "I found half a steer in the freezer—frozen, of course."
    Trevor couldn't help but laugh. "Wonder what she got this time?"
    Opening the refrigerator and peering inside, Taylor sighed. "Whatever it is, she didn't put it in here. Now where—"
    "Here." Trevor, spotting an anomaly in the neat kitchen, had gone to stand by the back door, where a large metal tub reposed. Gazing bemusedly down at the contents of the tub, he added, "I only hope you know what to do with them,"
    Taylor joined him. "Oh no! Lobsters. Live lobsters."
    "At least they're fresh," he murmured.
    From the kitchen doorway, Luke announced. "I'll fix dinner, Taylor, if you'll keep your mother out of the flowers." He was holding a very much alive and indignant lobster in one hand. "One got away," he