Love on Trial by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

bare. He had a towel over one shoulder and a lit cigarette in his hand. When he heard her door open, he turned from thewindow, his eyes openly interested, quiet, speculative as they traced deliberately every soft line and curve of her body in a silence that literally smouldered.
    â€œGod!” he breathed.
    She blushed, feeling vaguely undressed by the look he was giving her. “I…I’m not used to this much bare skin,” she murmured, trying to keep her own eyes off that hard, husky body with its taut brown skin and its covering of black, curling hair.
    â€œThat makes two of us,” he said tightly. “Have you got a beach jacket?” he added harshly.
    â€œYes, but…”
    â€œThen go get the damned thing and put it on!” he growled, turning back to the window.
    â€œYes, sir! ” she breathed venomously. She went back into her room and shouldered into a thigh-length white terry cloth jacket, buttoning it up to her chin. Shemarched back into the sitting room with a towel held in a strangling grip.
    â€œI’m ready when you are,” she called over her shoulder, opening the door to march down the corridor, not caring whether or not he was following.
    It was like being five again and having her father sling orders at her, she thought, feeling quite embarrassed. She found one bare spot on the beach, ignoring the blistering heat of the sand on her tender feet, and spread her big beach towel a few yards from the noisy surf. She slammed herself down onto it on her belly, pulling her dark glasses down to cover the hurt in her eyes. She didn’t notice the children playing around her, building sandcastles and hunting sand crabs, or the couples wandering up and down in the surf. She felt crushed inside.
    A movement beside her attracted her attention. Hawke spread down his own towel and lazily stretched out on hisback, sunglasses hiding the expression in his eyes.
    â€œAre you through having a tantrum?” he asked.
    â€œNot quite,” she replied tightly, pushing up on an elbow and facing him.
    â€œWhen you are, you might consider taking off that jacket so the sun can get to you,” he observed.
    â€œYou were the one who insisted I put it on,” she reminded him sweetly.
    He rolled over on his side, and she felt his eyes burning her. His hand went out to the top button of her beach jacket, undoing it with a deftness and sensuality that made her pulse race. Her breath was coming in quick and unsteady bursts.
    â€œDo you have any idea,” he asked softly, undoing the second button, “what it does to a man to look at a sweet young body and know that it’s never been touched before?”
    She felt the blush run the length of her as he finished the last button and leanedover to ease it off her shoulder. His fingers lingered for a moment on the creamy skin at her collarbone.
    â€œI’m not immune to you, little virgin,” he said in a deep, soft tone. “I may be over the hill in your young eyes, but my instincts are in excellent condition, and I still respond like a healthy male. Don’t trust those seventeen years to keep you chaste, Siri. I can lose my head just like any other man. Especially,” he added quietly, “when you encourage me to lose it.”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean!” she whispered unsteadily.
    â€œYes, you do.” He rolled over onto his back. “You put that bikini on deliberately, sparrow.”
    She closed her eyes and lay back down on her stomach. She wanted to deny it, but he’d have seen through the lie, and she knew it.
    â€œIt’s perfectly normal, Siri,” he murmured lazily. “You’re young enough towant to test your ability to attract men. Just don’t test it on me.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said in a strangled tone. “I think I must be going crazy.”
    â€œYou’re only growing up, little girl,” he replied, “and it’s