Smashwords version Sweet Surrender by Georgette St. Clair Read Free Book Online Page A

tone, as if he were
briefing a room full of police officers. “It started with someone spray
painting the bakery. Then they did it again. Then they slashed the tires on the
cars of the people who work there. Then someone very likely deliberately ran
your sister down.  Then somebody broke into your apartment, and God knows
what they would have done to you if I hadn’t been there.” Poppy stared at him, stricken. “It’s hard to believe my sister
wouldn’t have warned me about all of those earlier attacks.” “Is it?” He searched her face, and she struggled to believe her
own words, but she had to admit that when Penelope dragged her into her messes,
she often she seemed not just careless, but downright spiteful towards Poppy. Not openly, ever, but Poppy’s mind flashed back to how she’d had
been so excited when she got into college, and then she had to skip an entire
semester because Penelope went on a shoplifting binge and she used her tuition
money to bail her out and hire a lawyer… those humiliating double dates that
Penelope had dragged her on, when she could have asked any of her skinny
nightclubbing friends to go instead… “I’ll talk to her tomorrow night,” she said wearily. “And I’ll ask
her. Although honestly, she’s a world-class liar when she’s motivated, so I
don’t know if it will do any good. And I’m still not 100 percent convinced that
all of this is connected.” He shook his head. “Well, I am convinced.  I’m going to ask
the police to patrol the area more frequently, and I’ll talk to my friends in
the detective division about it tomorrow.  These attacks aren’t very
organized or subtle. Whoever is doing this is mentally ill and spiraling out of
control, and they will get caught sooner or later, but in the meantime, you
need to be very careful.” Poppy took a deep breath and sat down at the kitchen table. “I’m
not taking this lightly, but I’ve got mace on my keychain. I’ve taken self
defense classes.  And I’ve never liked bullies. Honestly, the fact that
some religious nut job wants to destroy the bakery makes me want to stay here
even if Penelope did lie to me.” “That’s admirable, but as long as that crazy is out there, I’m
going to be sticking to you like a shadow.” As she spoke up to protest, he held
up his hand. “No arguments. And now – I’m hungry, and I’m going to order us
some takeout Chinese for us. It’s been a rough night.”
    And it only got rougher. Hours later, after counting several thousand sheep, Poppy lay on
the couch, tossing and turning and listening to Rafe’s rhythmic breathing. She’d forgotten one little problem with having him there. She had packed her battery operated friend when she’d come to stay
at Penelope’s…but with him there, in the tiny apartment, there was no way for
her to use it. And having him lying several feet away, close but untouchable,
was driving her crazy. She kept replaying their kiss in her head, and imagining
more. So much more. Him ripping the clothing from her body, buttons flying
everywhere. Taking the body butter from Sweet Sensations and lathering it on
her nipples and sucking it off, with swirls of his tongue. Him spreading her
legs open with his big, strong hands and… “Rafe?” she said. “Are you asleep?” “Nope.” “Me either,” she groaned. “You know…I was thinking. I’m leaving in
eight weeks when Penelope gets well enough to come back to the bakery.  So
we couldn’t really have anything permanent with each other. So I know that
going in, which means I won’t get too attached.” Keep telling yourself that,
she thought. “Oh?” He sounded amused. “So, it’s not like we really need to get to know each other,
because it’s not going to be a real relationship.  I guess there’s no reason we
couldn’t…you know…I mean…” Damn the man, was he going to make her beg? “Nope,” he said firmly. “No?” she echoed, shocked and hurt. “I told you