Crazy For You by Marie Higgins Read Free Book Online Page A

stayed close, not really wanting to break the heat sparking between them right now. The longer he watched her face, the more he wanted to kiss her, especially when her attention dropped to his lips. How could he stop himself now? Not when the curious look of interest was evident in her eyes.
    He stroked the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip again. “ Kendra , do you know how irresistible you are?”
    He pressed his lips to hers, and she let out a soft sigh . Her hands moved up his chest and linked around his neck. Her body relaxed fully against him. He groaned. This was easier than he’d thought.
    He cradled her perfect body in his arms as his mouth slid across her, nipping and pecking gently. She kissed as good as she looked—wonderful and heavenly.
    Quickly, she broke away. “We can’t do this.” She bumped him aside and walked to the kitchen.
    He followed, hoping to do a little more convincing. She stood by the stove dishing up the dinner he’d cooked. Anger lines weren’t marking her face as they were earlier. Instead, doubt lingered in her eyes that tried to avoid him. He could tell. And he wouldn’t give up.
     
    * * * *
     
    Kendra stared at her plate of food, moving around the noodles with her fork. She had eaten a few bites, but her nervous stomach wouldn’t allow much more, especially when she thought about what she and Eli could have done.
    Was she stupid? Why was she so eager to let a total stranger kiss her ? She couldn’t be that lonely…could she ? Thanks to Terrel’s unwillingness to show her some romantic attention , she already knew the answer. Yet, she couldn’t let that rule her thoughts. Lately, the more she considered marrying him, the more frightened she became, and that was before Eli had entered her life.
    It didn’t matter. Eli was unfamiliar to her, and she continued to suspect he was a few cans short of a six-pack. Something about him didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t identify what it was. Besides, he was all wrong for her...the exact opposite of what she wanted in a man.
    The awkward silence at the table kept her from raising her gaze to look at him. She didn’t want his hypnotic green eyes to spin her out of control again. She didn’t want to get to the point where she couldn’t control her urges.
    Across the table, Eli shifted his chair, but she kept her attention focused on her plate. Even when he cleared his throat, she wouldn’t look at him.
    “ Kendra ? Earlier, we got side tracked from our conversation, and I’d like to talk about it.”
    Her heart dropped. Did he want to discuss what had almost happened between them?
    “Will you please tell me what Terrel had to say about his stepbrother Joshua?”
    She released a sigh, then glanced up at him. Big mistake. She quickly dropped her attention to her plate. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? Why were his eyes so incredibly dreamy, his lips pouty, begging to be kissed? And why was she forgetting that he was so opposite of what she liked in a man?
    Food caught in her dry throat, so she finished swallowing. She took a drink of her bottled water to moisten it. “ Terrel said that Joshua was a wicked man. He said Joshua was the reason Adam had a heart attack.”
    When Eli’s fork dropped on his plate, she looked up. Anger lines creased on his forehead, and he kept his lips tight.
    She continued, “ Terrel said Joshua was out of control with his cocaine and gambling habits. When Adam found out about them, Joshua laughed in his face. Terrel said that was when Adam had his heart attack.”
    Eli curled his hands into fists and his knuckles turned white. “What did Terrel say about how Joshua died?”
    “ Terrel said Lisa put Joshua into a clinic to get help for his problem, but Joshua escaped and returned home. That afternoon while Terrel and his mother were at the office, Joshua had his own little drug party and overdosed.”
    Eli rested his elbows on the table as his head sank into his large hands. His breathing