PhoenixKiss by Lyric James Read Free Book Online Page B

him to like her. She was
here to get a story and a story she would get.
    “Did you always want to be a reporter?”
    The question surprised her. She expected he was asking to
keep her from inquiring about him. When she stared at him for a second, she saw
genuine interest on his face.
    “No, actually, I didn’t. I had dreams of being a writer. I
won a writing competition when I was in high school and after I did, I knew I
was going to be the next Nora Roberts or Janet Evanovich. But when I expressed that
desire to my parents, they balked. Writing wasn’t a career, it was a hobby,
they said. I thought I had picked the next best thing.”
    “But working forthe Tattler wasn’t exactly
your dream job?”
    “Um…no. After a few months, I found I was pretty good at it
though.”
    “You gave up your dreams to suit your parents and didn’t
even end up with the job you wanted.”
    Layla scowled at him. “They were paying the bills at the
time. I had no choice.”
    “What about after that? After you were grown and living on
your own. Why didn’t you pursue your dream then?”
    She wouldn’t dare tell him that a finished manuscript sat in
a drawer collecting dust because she feared rejection. She’d already proven she
wasn’t good enough for the biggest newspapers in the country. Why in the world
would she think she was good enough to publish a book? Layla had had enough
rejection to last a lifetime.
    “I grew up.”
    “No, you gave up.”

Chapter Five
     
    After she finished eating, Layla took her plate to the sink,
rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher. She was neither a cook nor a cleaner
but she knew how to put the soap in the right compartment and push start.
    “I’ve answered some of your questions, how about you answer
some of mine now?” she said after she turned around to face him. But when she
did, he was right there again, too close to her, screwing up her equilibrium.
The man had a raw sexuality that made hers kick into overdrive.
    In a low, husky voice, he drawled, “But we haven’t had
dessert.” The immediate change in the pitch of his tone was enormously arousing
and she felt it all the way to her toes.
    She placed her fingers over her belly, which zinged with
nervous flutters. Layla was stuffed but when Jordan pulled the plate of
cinnamon rolls he’d covered with icing forward, her mouth watered.
    “I hope you have a gym somewhere in this place because after
that mouthwatering spaghetti and now those, I’m going to need to run about two
hours on the treadmill.”
    When his gaze slid down and back up again, she tugged on the
T-shirt he’d given her. He smiled with a definite dash of wicked intent, which
caused a dimple to wink in his left cheek. And then he leaned forward, brushing
his slightly rough jaw against the soft skin of her cheek, which made her
shiver.
    “I don’t think you need a gym at all. I haven’t forgotten
our bath together. Your body is perfect in every single way.” He picked up one
of the sweet, decadent treats and started to bring it to his mouth then
stopped. Instead, he brought it to hers. “Open up.”
    She complied. It was still hot and smelled heavenly and the
icing dripped from the sides onto his fingers. When she bit down, she couldn’t
help but close her eyes, it tasted so delicious. She’d never experienced
something so divine.
    “Another family recipe, I’m guessing?”
    He nodded. “A great-grandmother.”
    Wow. Sexy, smart, rich and he could cook. She’d died and
gone to heaven. He was the perfect man.
    Well, except for that whole phoenix thing, which reminded
her she still hadn’t asked him one thing. “You didn’t answer my questions.”
    A dribble of sauce dripped down her chin and she reached up
to swipe it away. She was about to stick her finger in her mouth when he
stopped her, took the digit and slid it between his lips instead. Every hormone
in her body took notice and a fluttering surge of desire caught her in a tight
fist.
    He brought