Heat Wave by Kate J. Squires Read Free Book Online Page A

Plus, I told you yesterday I was willing to blow off this gig for you. So if there’s judgement to throw around here, it’s on you. You left me, Maddie, in the middle of the night, without even having the decency to wake me up and say goodbye.’
    â€˜I left because I thought you were too good for me!’ I started shaking, my lips numb and refusing to work properly. ‘But it turns out I didn’t even know you! For ten years, I haven’t even known your real name.’
    â€˜Beau is my real name. You knew that.’
    â€˜But you’ve never used it—ever.’
    â€˜ T he producers liked it better than Tanner.’
    He stepped towards me and I backed up towards the wall, snorting. ‘Oh, well, if the producers like it! Would they also like you to get pec implants? Marry a goat?’
    â€˜You’d be surprised at some of the things I had to go through to claim my million bucks from Erotic Island . Wade through Jell-O, bungy jump, spend a night with a stranger.’
    My heart sank at the thought of Tanner’s arms around another woman, of anyone else enjoying his talented fingers and velvet lips.
    He had me completely pressed against the cabin wall, his tone fierce. ‘But you know what, Maddie? It was still less humiliating than dealing with the man from the bank who came to repossess my land, or the way people used to make fun of me because they thought I was just an illiterate farm hick! I took control; I changed my life. Can you say that?’
    â€˜No! Maybe I can’t, but I don’t understand why you would come back a second time.’
    â€˜Because I’m lonely,’ he bellowed. ‘Because I’ve spent the last decade pining for my first love and no one else has ever lived up to her.’
    â€˜Do you think it’s any different for me?’ I pushed at his chest, feeling the corded muscles bunched in tension. ‘Do you think I haven’t thought about you every day since I left Texas? I loved you so much, Tanner!’
    I didn’t get the chance to go on before his lips slammed into mine, covering my mouth with a stormy kiss, turbulent and dark. Feeling the same primal anger, I responded, opening my mouth and biting his lip hard, wanting him to feel me, remember me. My tablet fell to the cushy carpeted floor, forgotten.
    Tanner’s day-old stubble grazed my chin as he ground against my face, his hands snaking through my hair and tugging the tresses. Rushes of fluid lust and desire pooled inside my belly as I scratched my nails hard through his shirt, needing to imprint him.
    Tanner broke the kiss, leaving his forehead close to mine as he panted and said, ‘Why did you have to leave? You walked out, Maddie. How could I ever trust you again? The girl I loved never would have done that.’
    Like a vortex, every emotion swirled inside me. ‘Tanner … I’m so sorry.’
    His face was distraught as he said brokenly, ‘Too little, too late, Maddie-girl. You made your feelings pretty clear by walking out. I’m going ahead with the show.’
    Part of me wanted to fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness, plead with him to take me away to Texas where we could live the rest of our days on his land. But the more practical side of my brain retaliated, throwing up a shield of professionalism.
    â€˜Well, good. This job is important to me, and I hope that our history won’t cause any friction between us.’
    Tanner’s eyes changed, from soft chocolate to hard earth. ‘I don’t see why it would. I’m committed to the success of this show; I gave them my word and there are jobs riding on it.’
    â€˜Including mine.’
    I bent down and retrieved the table from the carpet, reading Maxine’s instructions for the interview. ‘So, Beau , why don’t you … change into the outfit wardrobe has waiting for you on the bed and I’ll organise things out here.’
    â€˜Sure.