Impulsive by Catherine Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

to say," she muttered. "You're a
walking, talking ad for physical perfection, and you darn well know it. You're
the type of guy all the girls go ga-ga over. Couldn't you at least get your
nose broken, or chip a tooth, or something to make yourself a little less
gorgeous? Just one tiny flaw or two, so the rest of us don't feel so
inferior?"
    As she spoke, she unconsciously rubbed at the small bump on the
bridge of her own nose, evidence that she'd had it broken at one time.
    Reaching across the table, Ty brushed her fingers aside. His
fingers replaced hers, stroking the almost indiscernible lump. "How'd you
break it?"
    "Playing soccer." It irritated her that goose bumps had
popped up on her nape and her words emerged on a breathless whisper. She was
reacting to his mere touch like a moon-struck calf!
    "Didn't they set it at the hospital? Not that it's all that
obvious. I didn't even notice it until you started rubbing at it."
    His hand had dropped away, and she could speak normally again. She
explained. "For some reason, the X-rays didn't show the break, maybe
because they were wet when the doctor reviewed them. Anyway, the doctor didn't
catch it right away. By the time the mistake was discovered, my nose was well
on the way to healing. There was no way I was going to let them rebreak
it and go through all that pain again. Not to mention running around looking
like a giant raccoon for several more weeks, with two huge neon shiners."
    "Can't blame you there," he concurred. "Besides,
like I said, it's not that noticeable. Now, if they'd left you looking like
Karl Maiden, that would be another matter altogether."
    Jess had to laugh. "I guess I should be thankful. It could
have been worse."
    "Lots of things could be worse," he agreed. "We
should all remember more often to be thankful when they aren't. They say that
to an optimist, a half-filled glass is always half full. To a pessimist, that
same glass is half empty. Sometimes, it's all in your perspective."
    Jess's wry grin mocked his curbside philosophizing. "To my
way of thinking, it's still a glass that needs washing."

CHAPTER 5
    Jess had some research to do on her computer, so she didn't see Ty
again until he showed up at her door that evening. She'd dressed casually, in
lightweight slacks and boat neck pullover, and had exchanged her comfy tennies
for a pair of sandals. Ty was even more casually clothed, in shorts and summer
knit shirt.
    He glanced over her attire and approved it with a nod. "Nice,
but if you want to change into shorts, I'll be glad to wait. It's hotter than
Hades, and twice as humid. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable, and we're
not going anywhere fancy. In fact, if it's all right with you, I figured we'd
pick up a bucket of chicken and the fixings and head to the park, or maybe find
a spot down by the river, on the off chance of catching a breeze."
    "Sounds fine with me, and in that case I'll take you up on
your offer and switch to shorts."
    He followed her into the apartment, gratefully sucking in the dry,
cool air. "Ah, air-conditioning. God bless the man who invented it!"
    "Make yourself comfortable," Jess told him, heading down
the hall. "I'll be back in a jiffy."
    "Mind if I take a look around the place?" he asked.
    "Go ahead. Help yourself to some iced tea if you want."
    Like Jess, her apartment wasn't showy. Her living room furniture
appeared more comfortable than trendy, though instead of the usual couch or
loveseat she had chosen a futon. Ty had seen them in stores, but had never sat
on one before. He lowered himself onto the puffy cushion and bounced lightly.
    "Hey! Is this thing really comfortable to sleep on?" he
called out to her.
    "The futon?" she yelled back, hazarding a guess.
    "Is that what it's called? This couch-thing that folds
out?"
    "Yes, it's not bad at all, but I wouldn't want to be
relegated to it on a nightly basis."
    Skirting an oak end table, Ty zeroed in on her entertainment
center. Her TV was a color portable with a