Breakaway by Rochelle Alers Read Free Book Online Page B

are.”
    “That’s not possible when you registered him as Terry Thomas, not Terry Thomas-Faulkner.”
    She didn’t know whether to sucker punch Gavin orlaugh for his teasing her. She did the latter. “You know you’re a little crazy.”
    “I’m serious, Celia.”
    “What are you going to do with a dog when you’re off protecting the world’s powerful elite?”
    “The same could be said for you when you’re practicing medicine.”
    “But I’m not practicing medicine. I’m on leave, and if or when I return I’ll have someone take care of him.”
    Slowing his stride to accommodate Celia’s shorter legs, Gavin dropped her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist. He felt a modicum of guilt because he knew facts about Celia she’d probably forgotten or wasn’t aware of.
    He wondered whether she knew that her late fiancé had fathered a son at seventeen. The baby’s mother had given him up for adoption. Trevor-Jones had another secret. Although he’d been caught cheating in high school, his family’s name, money and clout got the charge expunged from his permanent records.
    Gavin didn’t know whether Celia’s decision not to practice medicine was because she was still grieving the loss of her fiancé or because she’d feared a repeat of an episode that almost cost her her own life.
    “Why aren’t you practicing?” She stopped abruptly, causing him to stumble but he quickly regained his balance.
    Celia stared up at Gavin. Wearing flats put her at a distinct disadvantage. Standing close to five-ten in her bare feet, whenever she wore heels not many men towered over her.
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “I’m sorry for prying.” Gavin actually hadn’t expected her to disclose any facts about her personal life.
    “It’s not about prying, but me not wanting to, as they say, spill my guts to a stranger.”
    Putting both his arms around her waist, Gavin pulled Celia to his chest. “After a couple of dates we should stop being strangers.”
    She lifted her chin. “Who said anything about a couple of dates? After Saturday’s cookout we may never see each other again.”
    “How soon you forget, lady doctor. You promised to share Terry with me and there’s still our cook-off challenge.”
    Lids lowering, lashes brushing the tops of her cheeks, Celia was able to conceal the rush of excitement eddying through her body. She’d boldly asked Gavin to go to Hannah’s with her, something she’d never done with any other man, but she didn’t want to be presumptuous and assume he wanted to see her again. After all, he’d come to the mountains on vacation, not to become involved with a woman.
    “How long is your vacation?”
    Gavin pressed a kiss to Celia’s forehead when what he’d wanted was to taste her mouth. Her mouth and voice were the personification of sensuality.
    “It’s as long as I want it to be,” he said after a comfortable pause. “I’m leasing a time-share. I plan to stay through the Labor Day weekend.”
    Her eyes caught and held his amused gaze. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
    Attractive lines fanned out around Gavin’s eyes when he smiled. “No, I’m not. I just finished a job where I spent two months traveling with a businessman and his family throughout Europe and Asia. Once I returned to the States it took a week to balance mybody’s circadian rhythm and even longer to readjust my taste buds. Speaking of taste buds,” he said without pausing to take a breath, “how about sharing lunch with me?”
    Her smile was as intimate as a kiss. “I’d love to share lunch with you.”
    Tightening his hold on her slender body, Gavin tucked Celia into the hard planes of his physique. Holding her, inhaling her feminine scent made him aware that she wasn’t skinny, but slender. Her womanly curves fit perfectly within the contours of his length.
    “What do you feel like eating?”
    Celia closed her eyes, melting against the man who reminded her why she’d been born