Daniel by Kathi S. Barton Read Free Book Online Page A

expressive eyes that he would swear were the deepest
shade of blue he’d ever seen. Daniel closed his eyes when she brushed past him,
her scent of something erotic and female made him think of silky sheets
crumbled on the floor and sweaty bodies lax in the aftermath of fantastic sex. Giving
himself a mental shake, he walked to where she stood.
    “It’s plain, isn’t it?” She walked away
from him after asking, and he was pretty sure she hadn’t known she’d said it
out loud. “There is a great deal of room. We can go out if you’d like, or I can
make you a piece that is tall and has a plant base around it. Something that
can be sat on when they enter or view. It’s up to you.”
    He could see that. A large piece with a seat
that served as a place to have greenery that could be enjoyed when you sat or
simply walked into the room. Joey had been on him about putting plants inside
as she’d done on the outside since they’d moved in. He just didn’t want to
spoil the openness of the lobby. He watched when she pulled out a pad of paper
from her bag and pencil. She sat on the floor and began to draw. He simply
watched her from a distance and wondered if he should bring up her son. Then
thought what the hell, she was aware he knew already.
    “Why doesn’t your agent know about
Benny?” he asked. She stilled in her drawing, but then continued. “In fact, no
one seems to know about him. It’s as if you have separate lives concerning
him.”
    “And it will stay that way, too. Benny
is none of your concern. He’s mine.” She continued drawing as she spoke. “My
personal life is nothing to you beyond what you’ve blackmailed me into.”
    He nearly lashed out at her about the
term “blackmail” but knew that was just what he’d done. He leaned against the
wall just a few feet away from her and wondered if bringing up Carver was a
good idea. But she spoke first.
    “One of the stipulations for me working
for you will be that you forget about him. He’s very special to me, and I’ll
not have you blabbing to everyone you know about him.”
    “Do you know who his father is?” He
wouldn’t have asked her that if it was her son. He had a feeling she would not
have casual sex and would know every man she’d slept with. She didn’t answer
him.
    “This is what I think would work here
for you,” she said as she stood up. “The colors would be earth tones, pretty
much what you have in here already. I have cobalt that I think would complement
your other colors, and when you get some plants picked out with it, I’ll make
sure my colors go well with them, too.”
    He looked over the drawing, and his
breath caught. Christ, she’d only been sitting there for less than fifteen
minutes, and this is what she’d come up with. He looked at her over the pad.
    “This is amazing. And I love that you’ve
put some of the plants on the piece as well.” He held it up where the piece was
going to go and could almost see it. “How long will this take? I’m in no hurry
other than to see it complete.”
    “About three months. I have to throw the
base piece in several pieces and line them up. Then I’ll have to fire them like
that. The kiln I’m working on will be perfect for the sheer size of this, but I
have to finish it, too.” She took back the pad and handed him the sheet after tearing
it off. “Give that to your florist of choice and let me know through Rachel
what she comes up with. The only color I can see is the blue, the rest will be
between her and you.”
    She was standing so close. He found
himself staring at her mouth while she spoke, and he could only moan when she
licked her lips. His gaze went to her eyes. He could see something there, and
he found he had to taste her.
    “No. Don’t,” she whispered when he
cupped the back of her head to bring her to him. But it was too late; he had to
have her.
    ~~~
    Reilly had been kissed before. Not a
great deal, but she’d had some mouth action. But this man