Can't Say No by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

you?”
    He knelt down beside her. As a distraction, it was very effective. The bulging muscles of his thighs were mere inches from her fingers. She tried to recall everything she’d ever read in her high school chemistry and biology books, but she couldn’t think of a single thing to explain the powerful reaction sweeping over her. It was probably in the sex education text, anyway, and that had been banned from her school.
    His hand curved along her jaw and he tilted her head up until their eyes clashed. “You are safe with me,” he said gently. “Promise.”
    Audrey shook her head. Even if he wasn’t aware of it, she knew it was a lie. She might be safe enough in this flimsy balloon, though she had her doubts, but she wasn’t safe with Blake Marshall at all. She’d have been more secure in a pit of vipers.
    â€œWho’s Jenkins?” she asked, just to get her mind off the urgent and nearly irresistible desire to check out the muscle tone in Blake’s thigh.
    â€œA sponsor,” he answered and quickly got to his feet. Too quickly. Suddenly he didn’t seem interested in meeting her gaze. He couldn’t have done more to arouse her curiosity if he’d tried.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œHe puts up a chunk of money for these races.”
    â€œAnd he was supposed to fly with you this morning?”
    He looked decidedly uncomfortable. “Yeah, well, we’d talked about it,” he mumbled, as he pointedly went back to fiddling with more gadgets.
    â€œIs he also a pilot?”
    â€œNo.”
    With a sudden and not especially pleasing flash of insight, Audrey sensed a shift in the balance of power in this conversation. “If he wasn’t going to crew for you, then who was?”
    â€œNo one.” A middle-of-the-night intimacy couldn’t have been murmured any more quietly. The impact, however, was decidedly different.
    â€œNo one?” she repeated in an ominous tone. “I thought you mistook me for your crew.”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œLook me in the eye and say that.”
    â€œI did.” Blue eyes glanced defiantly in her direction, then shifted away. “Sort of.”
    â€œExplain.”
    â€œCal was supposed to send someone new for the ground crew.”
    â€œGround being the operative word, I assume.”
    â€œYes, dammit.” The guilt-ridden words were ground out between tight lips.
    â€œI see.” She nodded thoughtfully. “I hope you don’t think I’m being unreasonable, but do you mind my asking what the hell I’m doing here?” Her voice rose until she was sure her shout could be heard three states away.
    A tiny muscle worked in Blake’s jaw. For the first time since they’d taken off, he was the one who appeared nervous. If she had her way, the man would be quaking in his boots before she finished with him. He would be seeing visions of a long jail term or, at the very least, a hefty fine.
    Since it was difficult to be thoroughly intimidating while seated, she got to her feet. Blake still towered over her by several inches, so it wasn’t quite as effective as she might have liked, but it was a start. Hands on hips, she glowered at him. “Well?”
    He met her gaze and she caught a twinkle in his eyes, before he carefully—and wisely—banished it. She was in no mood to provide him with another second of his morning’s entertainment.
    â€œI wanted you along,” he finally responded. The simple words set up a thrumming in the air that affected every nerve in her body. She searched the depths of his eyes for any sign of an easy lie, but she couldn’t find it. She found sincerity and warmth and, most unexpected of all, desire. Sharp, primitive, unmistakable desire. Her breath caught in her throat.
    â€œNot as crew?” she managed to ask in a raw-edged whisper.
    â€œNot as crew,” he confirmed, then admitted with obvious