The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

and her body took over, a sweet and steady ache.
    Her heart tripped once, then fell with barely a sound.
    It cost him to draw back, to force himself to remember where they were. Her hand was still caught in his.
    “Now what, Layna? Do we finish this, or do we stop it?”
    “I don’t know.” How could she be expected to make a rational decision when her head was spinning?
    “If you’re going to leave it up to me …” His smile flickered, wicked around the edges, before he rubbed his lips over hers again.
    “No, no, I’m not,” she said quickly, pulling away. “We need to step back and look at the overall picture.”
    “What I see are two unattached adults who have a basic attraction for each other.”
    “I’m not sure what I see yet.” More than a little panicked, she snatched up her purse, shoved back from the table and rushed outside.

Chapter 5
    He caught up with her on the sidewalk, and was just churned up enough to grab her arm and spin her around. “Look, what’s the problem? All you have to do is say, ‘No thanks, pal, not interested.’”
    She tossed her hair back, suddenly furious that it was messy. “No thanks, pal. Not interested.”
    “Liar.”
    “Jerk.” She turned on her heel and strode down the sidewalk. It didn’t surprise her when he fell into step beside her. It irritated, but didn’t surprise.
    “You weren’t exactly fighting me off in there, baby.”
    She inhaled sharply, had to remind herself the sidewalk cafés were full of people. She would not, absolutely not, be pushed into creating a scene. “I was mildly curious,” she said in a voice like January frost. “Now my curiosity is satisfied.”
    “Pardon me, but I believe I was involved in that same little experiment. You melted like butter.”
    “It was a simple kiss.” Had to be, she told herself with a new sense of rising panic. She didn’t want to feel what she’d felt, want what she’d wanted.
    “A simple kiss is what you give your grandmother on her birthday.” He hitched his bag to his other shoulder and asked himself why he was pursuing this. A lady put up a stop sign, you put on the brakes. End of story.
    But damn it, he could still taste her.
    “Layna.”
    This time she shook off the hand he put on her arm, then sharply turned toward home. “I will not be backed into a corner this way.”
    “You’re making your own corners. If you’d just stand still a minute …” He swore when she only lengthened her stride. “Just hold it.” He took both her arms this time, held her in place. And got a good look at her face.
    Her cheeks were too pale, her eyes too dark. And there was more jittering in them than temper.
    “You’re scared. It scared you.” He knew realizing it should make him feel sorry, but it didn’t. It made him want to grin. “I figured you for more spine than that.”
    She jerked back, and for the first time in her life found herself actually tempted to strike another human being. “I have absolutely no interest in continuing the conversation. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going in.”
    “We can end the conversation. Let’s try this instead.”
    She saw his intention. Thrill wrapped in fear pounded at her heart. “I don’t want—”
    But his mouth was already on hers. No lazy exploration this time, no slow, smooth seduction. He possessed, then conquered, then devoured. Lights exploded in her head; heat swam through her blood. All she could do was hold on and ride that high and savage wave.
    He hadn’t realized he’d lifted her off her feet, that he’d lost himself in the taste of her, until he felt his heart ram brutally against his chest. He was always, always, aware of his size, of the strength of hishands. Now realizing he hadn’t been appalled him.
    He dropped her back on her feet, took two steps back. “Ball’s in your court.” He turned, strode away.
    *   *   *
    He cursed himself for days. Slept poorly at night. He talked himself into apologizing a dozen times,