Chance Of A Lifetime 1987 by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

pick up muddy clothing.
    „Rachel, the bit about you looking like a bound captive was just a joke,“ Chance said, uncertain of her mood. „You’
    re not hurt, are you?“
    „No, I am not hurt.“ She continued picking up dirty laundry. „If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to work.“
    Chance stepped forward and put out a hand to touch her, unconsciously wanting to soothe her. „I’ll help you with
    that laundry.“
    „Don’t bother. This is my job, remember?“ She twisted aside to avoid his hand and started to stalk past him with an
    armful of muddy clothes. Chance had the impression she wanted to escape.
    Without pausing to think about what he was doing, Chance reached out and snagged her before she could dodge,
    pulling Rachel abruptly back toward him.
    She found herself trapped against his chest and, when she lifted her face to tell him how little she liked the
    position, Chance lowered his head and kissed her.

3
    Rachel was so startled at the unexpected impact of Chance’s kiss that for a breathless instant she stood perfectly still.
    Her blazing temper was suddenly chilled to ice. She had time to acknowledge the heat of his mouth and the slow,
    deliberate manner in which he was learning the feel and taste of her, and then a strange panic blossomed within her.
    This was all wrong. This was what he had done to Gail. Rachel began to struggle fiercely, but Chance’s hold on
    her was already far too secure. She could barely move inside the hard, unyielding circle of his arms. The strength in
    him overwhelmed her as he tightened his grasp and pinned her against his chest.
    „Calm down, you little wildcat,“ Chance said into her mouth as she strained to get away from him. „I’m kissing you,
    not beating you. After the way you yelled at me a minute ago, you’re lucky to get off this lightly.“
    There was an indulgent humor in his words that further infuriated her. „Let go of me, Chance, or so help me, I’ll-“
    „You’ll what?“ he asked tauntingly. „Pack your things and leave? Be my guest. I don’t recall inviting you here in
    the first place. And I’ve already explained that the men in my family don’t take well to ultimatums from their women.
    Don’t make threats you aren’t prepared to carry out.“
    „I’m not one of your women,“ she snarled, seizing on the one thing he had said that had rekindled her anger and
    panic. „Do you hear me, Abraham Chance? I am not one of your women.“
    „I hear you.“ He lifted his head long enough to look down into the sea-green fire of her eyes. „But are you listening
    to yourself? Don’t you think you’re overreacting to what was only a minor bit of teasing? It’s not as if I pushed you
    into that fish pond. And it’s not as if you’re hurt. What the hell’s the matter with you?“
    Rachel flinched as the reality of what he was saying hit home. He was right. In his view she probably had
    overreacted. If she wasn’t very careful he was going to start wondering what the real problem was. She could hardly
    explain that when she had found herself bound hand and foot with clothesline, lying helplessly at his feet, the image of
    being his prisoner had been far too real. It had reminded her of why she was here in this isolated spot in the first place,
    hanging damp laundry. It had reminded her of the real danger in the situation. All her instincts of self-defense had
    leaped to life.
    This was her enemy. She must never forget that. But part of her, she knew now, was in danger of forgetting or
    ignoring or overlooking that basic fact. That was what had really enraged her. As she had lain there in the mud looking
    up at him, watching him laugh, hearing his light taunts, she had known a rush of frustrated fury that had erupted
    before she could control herself.
    If she had any hope of finding a way to avenge herself on this man, she had to get herself in hand first. A few more
    incidents like this one and Chance would become suspicious.
    Rachel