Here Comes Trouble by Delaney Diamond Read Free Book Online Page B

with her.
    We need to talk .
    Whenever those words left a woman’s lips, it didn’t bode well for the man she said them to, and tonight appeared to be no different if the expression on Lorena’s face was any indication. She stood with one hand on her hip and an angry scowl on her face. Still, he was happy to see her. Her caramel-colored skin glowed and encouraged him to touch, but he knew better, because her beautiful eyes spat venom at him.
    She had no idea how sexy she looked angry, and he didn’t plan to tell her.
    “What did I do now?” he asked. He didn’t know what had her so upset, but he hoped he could fix it before she scratched his eyes out.
    “You know why I’m here, Matthew.” She’d called him by his full name—always a bad sign.
    “Actually, I don’t.”
    “Okay, play dumb. I spoke to Lewis on the phone tonight on my way back from my Women in Business dinner. He told me you said you want me back and you threatened to punch him out.”
    Stunned speechless, Matthew didn’t say anything at first. Then he laughed in disgust. “He told you that? Are you kidding me? What kind of man does something like that? He’s twisted the conversation. What else did he say?” That slimy, no-good …
    “So there’s more?”
    “No, I just want to know what else Linus had to say.”
    “His name is Lewis! L-e-w-i-s. You know good and well what his name is.”
    Matthew eased by her on his way to the breakfast bar. As he did so, he took a breath to get another whiff of her perfume. His body came awake. He’d never wanted a woman the way he wanted her—just the scent of her got him aroused. It was extremely dangerous for her to be here alone with him this time of night, looking all angry and sexy.
    He picked up the empty soda can and plate. “What do you see in this fool? He’s a pompous jerk.”
    “It takes one to know one.”
    “If you came over here to insult me, you can leave now.”
    He placed the plate in the sink and the can in the recycling container. “It can’t be the money, because you don’t care about money. Why do you think he told you I threatened him? Was lover boy scared? Did he send you to handle the situation?”
    He could tell by the firming of her lips she didn’t appreciate the derisive way he spoke about Lewis, which only made him want to do it more.
    “He wasn’t scared. He told me because we don’t keep secrets from each other.”
    “How sweet.”
    ****
    Matthew’s sarcastic tone and devil-may-care attitude made Lorena angrier with each passing minute. She’d never thought of herself as a violent person, but she really wanted to pound her fists against his wide, naked chest. She wanted to smooth her hands over his large pecs… No, no . The wrong images flooded her brain.
    “Did you threaten him?”
    “If telling him I’d punch him in the face if he ever threatened me again or spoke to me the way he did is a threat, then yes, I threatened him.” He looked completely unrepentant, but she expected as much.
    “Did you tell him you intend to pursue me?”
    “Yes.” His answer left her breathless and with a curious excitement niggling in her chest.
    “Well then I’m definitely glad I came, so we can put this to rest. There’s no need for you to pursue me. You’re wasting your time, because I am not, nor will I ever be, interested in you again.”
    “Now why don’t I believe you?”
    “Maybe because you’re arrogant?”
    His eyes glimmered with mischief. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much. Be honest with me, Lorena. You’re using Linus to run from what’s between us, trying to pretend you hate me.”
    “I’m not pretending. The only reason I’m having anything to do with you is because of the grant.” She gritted her teeth. “And his name is Lewis .”
    “Sorry, slip of the tongue. You know how crazy my tongue can get.”
    Her heart jumped, and she gave her lips a nervous lick, moistening them after they’d oddly dried up.
    Matthew’s eyes took a