Blitzing Emily by Julie Brannagh Read Free Book Online Page A

sitting up. For her.
    To say it was a surprise that he was still there was an understatement. Even more, she was touched. Anyone else on the planet would have decided she was going to live and gone home to a much more comfortable bed, but he’d stayed.
    She couldn’t figure it out. He didn’t know her. He owed her nothing. Actually, she owed him . He shifted a little in his sleep and pulled the blanket higher around himself. He was probably cold. She could at least do something about that.
    She shoved herself out of bed, pulling the blankets off as she went. She extracted a sand-colored woven-cotton blanket from the pile. It was still warm from her body heat. She tiptoed across the room.
    She draped the blanket over him as carefully as she could. He stirred a little, but he didn’t open his eyes. She watched him sleep for a few moments. Maybe she should wake him up and tell him to go back to sleep in the bed for a while.
    Maybe she needed to go downstairs, make some coffee, and get a grip on herself.
    A short time later Emily was nibbling on a bagel and cream cheese she had found in the refrigerator when heavy footfalls sounded on the staircase.
    “Good morning.”
    “Morning,” he mumbled. He looked a bit dazed. “Coffee.”
    “It’ll be done in just a few minutes,” she reassured him. “How’s your neck?”
    He rubbed it a little. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”
    He invaded the kitchen, found a mug in the cupboard over the sink, pulled the carafe out of the coffee maker, and stuck his mug under the stream. He replaced the carafe without spilling a drop. He sauntered to the other side of the kitchen. He wore a pair of navy-blue shorts, which matched his navy blue boxer briefs. She looked anywhere but at his bare chest, the vertical line of hair on his abdomen that vanished under the waistband of the shorts, and a six pack she wanted to lick.
    “Navy blue?” she asked.
    “I like blue.” He rubbed his eyes.
    “Oh.”
    “Billowing white cotton.” He indicated her nightgown.
    “I like it.”
    “It’s kind of . . . virginal.” He glanced at the kitchen floor, and a faint flush spread over his cheekbones. “And much hotter than most of the lingerie I’ve seen,” he said.
    He avoided Emily’s eyes. She walked away from him.
    “Want to sit down?” She tossed the words over her shoulder.
    “Hey, let’s get the news,” he said, and flipped to ESPN.
    “Excuse me,” she said. “ SportsCenter is not news.” Despite his commandeering the remote again, she had to smile.
    “It’s the most important news.” He laughed, and turned up the volume on the television. There was a photo of Brandon on the screen, and one of her.
    “It’s the end of an era this morning,” the announcer said. “Our sources tell us that Brandon McKenna, the Seattle Sharks’ All-Planet defensive end and ladies’ man, is off the market. McKenna’s engaged to opera diva Emily Hamilton. Wedding plans are pending. Our congratulations go out to the happy couple.”
    Emily turned to Brandon in shock. He grinned in response. Her home phone and cell phone both started ringing.

 
    Chapter Four
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    E MILY’S MOUTH OPENED and shut, and opened again.
    Brandon just sipped his coffee. The phones were still ringing. They stopped, and then started again. Emily’s voicemail was going to be full if she didn’t pick one of them up. Right now, though, it was the last thing she intended to do.
    She took the deepest breath she could. “This is an accident. They think we’re engaged?” She gasped. “We—we’re not engaged. We’re not even dating. I met you yesterday. Why are they— Oooh!” Emily pointed at the television screen. “We have to do something about this.”
    Brandon didn’t seem upset by this development. His body shook with laughter, and he put his cup down on the table in front of them. “Not dating? We could change that.” Emily’s glare was lethal. He ignored it, and stretched his arm out across the