The Bronzed Hawk by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

work.”
    “You’ll forgive my skepticism, but I’ve only known you one day, and I’ve already encountered two of your current flames. Hell, you wouldn’t be here at all if I hadn’t decided that I didn’t like the terms of that wager your Don Juan of a boss offered you! I’d say that we’re pretty well matched as far as notches on the bedposts are concerned.”
    Mac, a Don Juan? That was as ridiculous as his assumption about her past. “You’re rather prone to jumping to conclusions, aren’t you?” She lifted her chin haughtily. “I suggest that we drop the subject. The entire discussion is irrelevant anyway. We both know that the only reason you brought me along was because I blackmailed you into it.”
    He laughed mirthlessly. “The hell you did, sweetheart. For your information, the government boys came begging to O’Brien Computers to receive one of the first shipments of the new models off the assembly line. There’s no way they would have cancelled that order because of my affair with Maria.”
    Her green eyes widened incredulously. “Then why did you let me think that I’d manipulated you into agreeing? Why am I here now?”
    He frowned. “Damned if I know,” he growled, his eyes flickering with anger and another emotion that caused a sudden surge of heat to course through her. “I sure as hell can do without the brand of voltage you generate in me, Goldilocks. From the moment that I saw you, I wanted todrag you off to bed and keep you there for a week. You turn me on more than any woman I’ve ever met.” His voice roughened sharply. “If that was all there was to it, I’d be a happy man right now, and I can assure you that you’d be a very satisfied lady. But that’s not all, damn it. You arouse emotions in me that disturb the devil out of me. I’m not used to feeling protective and possessive and murderously jealous all at the same time. I liked my life very well as it was before the appearance of one small green-eyed blond!”
    “Well, I’m sure it’s only a temporary aberration. You’ll probably not remember my name next week.” Why was she feeling so hurt at O’Brien’s bluntness? He was only stating what she’d told herself only a few hours ago. She blinked rapidly and swallowed to relieve the aching tightness in her throat. She would not cry, damn it.
    She leaped to her feet and turned her back on O’Brien to gaze blindly out at the sunset. At any other time she would have been struck breathless at the incredible beauty of the fiery crimsonrays that turned the clouds below and around her into a misty pink world paved with corridors of gold. The hills and valleys of the earth below them were gowned in the cool, rich violet of early evening, but here in the clouds there was only vibrant, singing color. Kelly noticed the glorious phenomenon almost absently as she struggled to repress the thought of O’Brien’s explosive rejection.
    “I wish I could be as confident regarding that as you are, Goldilocks.” She had not heard his silent approach, but he was suddenly standing behind her. He was so close that she could feel the heat emanating from his body, and his breath stirred the curls about her ear as he spoke. “But you forget that I’m cursed with total recall. You just might turn out to be a permanent affliction.”
    Kelly could feel the breath catch in her throat as his lips brushed the curve of her ear. She could feel the electric vitality of his hard, muscular body as he shifted forward, pressing her into the side of the gondola. His arms slid around her slim waist. “Since we both agree that a serious relationship is the last thing that we want, I thinkwe owe it to each other to dissipate the mystique, don’t you?” he asked huskily, his lips moving to her nape and brushing light, teasing kisses beneath the curly, sun-streaked ringlets.
    “I—I don’t know what you mean,” she faltered, instinctively bending her head to receive those deliciously gentle