Rage of Passion by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

lengths to avoid any contact with him when she took it and dabbed at her lip.
    Her face felt hot, her knees weak. Odd that he should have such a profound effect on her. Perhaps it was just reaction.
    “He hurt you, didn't he?” he asked suddenly, his gaze forceful. “He hurt you sexually.”
    She swallowed. “Yes.”
    “Then for God's sake, why have his child?” he demanded.
    “I didn't have a lot of choice,” she said, hiding her face.
    He lit another cigarette, keeping his eyes on the match so that she wouldn't see them. He mumbled something harsh and forceful.
    “It's all past history now,” she said, and lifted her eyes. “I just want to pick up the pieces and raise my daughter. I don't want to trap you into marriage, honestly. I don't want anything to do with men, ever again. So I'll be glad to keep out of your way, if you'll stay out of mine.”
    He lifted his chin as he drew on the cigarette. “I don't bargain, honey.”
    “Don't call me that,” she said coolly.
    “I always used to. Have you forgotten?” he asked, his voice oddly quiet. “I never tossed those words around like some men do, either. Too bad you didn't listen.” Before she could pursue that, he was off on another subject. “Do you have a good lawyer?”
    She shifted. “I suppose so.”
    “I'll make sure you do before the custody suit comes up.”
    “Listen here, Gabriel—”
    “You were the only woman who ever called me that,” he murmured, smoking his cigarette while he studied her. “I like it.”
    She tried again. “I don't want—”
    “I'll fly you to get the little girl,” he added, turning. “Let me know a day beforehand, so that I can arrange things.”
    “Will you listen!”
    His eyebrows shot up. “To what?”
    “I can arrange my own life….”
    “You've made a hash of things, from what I've seen.”
    “I can do without your opinion!”
    “Pity. You could use a few pointers. And before you jump to any conclusions,” he added maddeningly, “I take back my offer to play around with you. In fact, I'll be generous and take back every damned thing I've said since you came here.” He pursed his lips as he searched her puzzled eyes. “You're like a virgin, aren't you? Afraid of sex, nervous of men…”
    The blush got worse. Her fists clenched beside her body. “Are you quite through?”
    “For now.” He pulled the hat lower over his eyes. “Stay away from that stallion,” he cautioned again.
    She glared after him. Overbearing, domineering…She held the handkerchief to her lip again and caught a whiff of his spicy cologne. Why that scent should make her heart race was beyond her reasoning. Before she could wonder about her reaction, however, she turned furiously and went back into the house.
    She spent a restless night worrying about whether or not she should just go back to San Antonio and make a stand there, without a vacation.
    Her mind laughed at that. Some vacation, with Gabriel Coleman making vicious passes at her and threatening to take over her whole life. Of course, she had to admit that he'd gotten the whole situation wrong because of Janet's past matchmaking. And what he'd overheard that first night could have sounded like a plan to trap him at the altar.
    She flushed, remembering what she'd confessed about having had a crush on him. Had he heard that, too? It would have been hard to miss, though, because at sixteen her eyes had followed him everywhere. The girls had even teased her about being so taken with him, and she didn't doubt that they'd told him, too.
    He'd always been more man than the average woman could handle. Something in her had always been, and still was, a little afraid of him. But underneath the cold, hard exterior, there seemed to be a surprisingly gentle man. She'd had a glimpse of that, and she'd warmed to it helplessly. Gentleness was the one thing she'd never had from Dennis, who took and gave nothing in return. Looking back, she could see his deviousness with clear eyes.