Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t find within her immediate family. They were all overachievers, while Lexie had always been the one with her head in the clouds. They had goals; Lexie had dreams. Her free-spirited grandmother was the only one who accepted Lexie for who and what she was.
    While Sam couldn’t begin to understand how important it was for Lexie to be like the grandmother she loved, he’d picked up on the fact that she was like her. He didn’t like travel, so theirs could never be a serious relationship. But a fling suited her just fine, and it had been too long since she’d had one of those.
    She liked Coop, despite the serious side to his personality. But unlike her father and sister—both bankers—and her powerhouse attorney mother, whose life mission was perfect children, Sam didn’t strike Lexie as uptight or unforgiving.
    He interested her and he was unattached and single, another prerequisite Lexie demanded, thanks to Drew. Not that he’d been involved with someonewhen they’d started dating, but he’d obviously been too open to other possibilities. She tried to gauge men better now.
    â€œHello, Earth to Lexie.” Sam snapped his fingers in front of her, calling for her attention.
    â€œSorry. I got lost in thought. I tend to do that.” And get called out by her family for being ditzy.
    â€œAs long as it’s not the company that’s boring you,” he said, a grin on his handsome face.
    â€œDefinitely not. It’s more a function of my creative side.” She wasn’t about to admit that she’d been thinking about him. “I start to dwell on things and go off into my own world. Next thing I know, a new Web site idea’s come to me. Sometimes I’m not even daydreaming about work.”
    â€œLooks like we have something in common.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Insanity?”
    He laughed. “No, creative daydreaming. You see, I’m a writer.”
    â€œI know. Crime beat.”
    He leaned closer. “I mean I also write fiction.” He spoke softly, his words almost a whisper.
    He was revealing a personal secret, making her, as the recipient, feel special. A warm feeling snuck up inside her and settled in her chest. “That’s awesome! What kind of fiction?”
    His shoulders relaxed. “Mystery. Sam Spade kind of stuff.”
    â€œI’m a huge reader and I love mysteries! In fact—want to know a secret? I’m an old-time Ludlum fan.”
    He nodded appreciatively. “A woman of complexity,” he mused.
    â€œAre you published?” she asked.
    â€œSmall press but—”
    â€œYou have big aspirations,” she finished for him.
    A mix of surprise and relief showed on his face. “How did you know?”
    â€œLet’s just say I recognize a kindred spirit.” She reached out and placed her hand over his, wanting to impart understanding.
    Fireworks ensued instead. Touching him set off a spark of heat inside her body. The attraction, which had been simmering beneath the surface, exploded in full force.
    Surprised, she started to pull away, but in a smooth move, he twisted his wrist and grabbed her hand instead. Liking the feel of him, she relaxed, letting him just hold on.
    â€œAre you working on a novel now?” she asked, trying to keep some semblance of conversation going when all her focus had centered on the palm of her hand, where his thumb drew lazy circles on her skin.
    â€œYou could say something recently dropped into my lap.” He drew a deep breath. “Which reminds me—before this thing between us goes any further, there’s another thing you need to know.”
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked, suddenly wary of his intensity.
    â€œThe ring isn’t just expensive—it’s likely stolen property.”
    â€œWhat? Stolen? How?” she asked, her mind spinning with the implications. If the ring had been stolen, then what about her