Kiss Me Crazy by Ednah Walters, E. B. Walters Read Free Book Online

hurried forward. It wasn’t easy, not with his pine-scented aftershave teasing her senses. “There’s a chafed area that needs fixing. The varnish has also yelowed and is starting to crack.”
    “When does the owner expect it?”

    “End of next week. Why do you ask? Is there a problem?”
    “Nothing that can’t be fixed,” was his mysterious response.
    He took her elbow and led her down the halway.
    His behavior threw her off balance. Not to mention the heat from his hand seemed to be burning a hole right through her jacket.
    Her unease shot up a notch, drumming along with the excitement of being so close to him. “What’s going on, Baron?”
    “You’re always so impatient,” he teased in a light tone.
    She bristled. “I’m not.”
    He chuckled. “I want to show you something.”
    She glanced at him, but he stared straight ahead, pretending not to notice her curiosity. He could be so annoyingly closemouthed.
    “What is it?” she insisted.
    “About the piece you’re working on. Can you finish it sooner?”
    She’d planned on working on it tomorrow to get out of shopping with Renee. The clothes her friend forced on her always ended up occupying space in her closet, unworn. “I think so.
    Wednesday…maybe Tuesday.”
    “Oh, that soon?”
    “Knowing the style of the period and Halè’s painting technique helped in this case.” They stopped outside her door and he released her elbow. She actualy felt bereft, which bothered her.
    She didn’t want to start hoping for the unattainable—his undivided attention. Focus. “I’ve already identified the color scheme. I found clear pigments in a thin area hidden under the edge of the frame.

    Once I finish removing the old varnish, I’l start the final step.” He smiled. Not just a hint of a smile or flashing twinkle in his eyes, but a lazy grin packed with raw sensuality. It took her breath away. The old irresistible Baron was resurfacing and mercilessly crushing through her defenses.
    She found herself responding with an answering smile.
    “What?”
    “It’s not important.” He reached for the doorknob, but Kara beat him to it. He couldn’t pretend nothing was amiss. The twinkle in his eyes gave him away.
    “Let me be the judge of that. Okay?” When his eyes narrowed, as though he was debating whether to tel her, she roled her eyes. “Come on.”
    “You’ve a lot of talent. I know it and you know it.”
    “But?”
    He let out a long sigh. “But at times you can’t resist showing off.”
    Kara’s eyes widened. Was he seriously chastising her? She studied his face, saw the corners of his mouth twitch and forgot to object to his words. The gorgeous hunk was teasing her. A jolt of longing poured through her at the transformations on his handsome face. She had missed the smile lines, the heated sensuality in his eyes, the sexy upward curve of his lips.
    “No, I don’t.” Her protest pitifuly lacked conviction.
    “Yes, you do. It’s rather cute.” He covered her hand and turned the doorknob. “It shows you’re confident about your work and are not afraid to show or share it.”

    Kara couldn’t move. His hand on hers had sent a jolt of unadulterated pleasure through her. Whenever they touched, it was always the same. Fire and ice. Sizzling heat and chils. At least that was what she felt. But what did he mean by cute? Puppy-frolicking-on-the-floor cute or I-find-you-attractive cute?
    “Kara?” He sounded impatient now.
    Jeez, can’t a woman analyze a moment? She filed the incident away in her RAM for retrieval later, pushed the door, and stepped forward. Realization hit her just as she reached for the light switch. The lights were already on in the basement. Frowning, she looked at Baron, but he didn’t seem surprised. He must have turned them on.
    “Go on ahead,” he urged.
    She reached for the eight by ten plastic Do Not Disturb sign from a hook on the wal. The sign usualy guaranteed her privacy—no employee barging in when she