Eyes of Fire by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

small.”
    â€œYour tastes have broadened.”
    â€œAh, let’s see, I just passed through your life and know nothing about you, but you can judge my tastes?”
    She smiled, determined not to cringe or allow him to realize in any way that her nudity in front of him made her feel as vulnerable as a day-old kitten.
    â€œI know that when you left here, the woman you left for was incredibly well-endowed. Not particularly tall, but—well-endowed.”
    â€œYou’re mistaken. But then, you so often are.”
    â€œHow could you possibly know that?”
    â€œHow could you possibly know my taste in breasts?”
    â€œI’m only familiar with my own observations, of course.”
    â€œVery mature ones,” he commented. “But then, you were just past being a child back then, weren’t you?”
    There was something disturbing about the way he asked the question.
    Just past being a child…. She had been in her early twenties at the time. He’d just been accustomed to a faster crowd. Women who knew what they were doing.
    Well, he had seen to her education.
    â€œI do apologize,” she said coolly. In perfect control. “We’re certainly both adults now, and this has to be one of the most ridiculous conversations I’ve ever had. Whether that was a man or a woman, you should have gone after them.”
    â€œOh, really? I get beaten up for saving you, and then I’m supposed to go after the intruder anyway?”
    â€œYou don’t look beaten up.”
    â€œTrust me, I am.”
    â€œYou—”
    â€œNot only was I struck by the intruder, but then I got you throwing punches, as well.”
    â€œAftershock,” she said evenly.
    â€œUm.”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter now.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter to you because you weren’t on the receiving end.”
    â€œYou are not hurt! You should be chasing—”
    â€œChasing who—and where?” he demanded curtly. “Your cottage is surrounded by others, and by the main house. All that intruder had to do was shuck the ski mask and black pullover and slip on a shirt or a jacket and you’d never recognize him or her in a thousand years.”
    â€œIt couldn’t possibly be a guest!”
    â€œNo, a large stork delivered him to the island!”
    â€œWell, you should have caught him!”
    â€œSilly me. I should have let you crack your head on the tile so I could chase the intruder. Fine. Next time I’ll let you crack your damned head!”
    â€œWhat kind of a cop are you? You could at least look for clues.”
    â€œI’m not a cop anymore.”
    â€œNo? Then what are you doing on the island?”
    â€œVacationing. Boating. Diving.”
    â€œLying.”
    â€œDo you subject all your guests to the third degree?”
    â€œOnly you.”
    â€œI’m here to dive.”
    â€œThe hell you are.”
    â€œI love to dive. This is a great location.”
    â€œSo is Aruba.”
    â€œI like the diving off Seafire Isle—and the dive mistress here has quite a reputation. I hear she’s perfect—and perfectly entertaining.”
    â€œDo you think you could possibly remove yourself from my room?”
    â€œDo you think you can quit questioning me long enough for me to get out?”
    Her eyes suddenly narrowed on him. “How did you get in here to begin with?”
    â€œThe same way your attacker did, I imagine.”
    â€œI was careful today. I locked the door.”
    â€œNot good enough, Sam.” He pointed to where one of her bedroom window curtains was floating inward on the breeze. “The window, Sam. Easy access.”
    He turned to leave the room, and she started to shiver.
    She rolled quickly under her bed covers, hoping he wouldn’t realize how much he had unnerved her. But he was leaving the room without glancing her way. She wondered if he had actually taken a look at her to begin