The Scale (Martha's Way) by Mika Jolie Read Free Book Online

especially hot, sexy men with piercing blue eyes and tattoos. Nope. Things
like that didn’t happen to her.
    Keely? Always.
    Lily? Yes.
    But not her.
    That reality allowed her to give herself a pass for having
lost any ability to come up with anything more intelligent to say other than Oh. I. You.
    “I really must leave.” There, that was better, change the
topic to something that didn’t involve kissing. If her sudden switch of topic
surprised him, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he flashed her that sweet,
seductive smile again. Her legs wobbled.
    A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes, evidence he was
aware of the effect he had on her. How she wished she could dig a hole in which
to bury herself until he disappeared.
    “Are you okay?” His voice filled with concern.
    “Um…I…”
    So she couldn’t articulate anything at the moment. Somehow
standing so close to this man had turned her brain to putty. His gaze never
left her face, which only worsened the situation.
    One long finger touched the tip of her nose. “Perhaps a
little tipsy,” he offered lightly. “Where are you staying? I will drive you.”
    He thought she was inebriated, but she wasn’t. At least not from alcohol consumption. His presence was
doing wonderful, strange things to her head and body.
    “I’m not drunk.” There, a complete sentence readily
available. The only words she had been able to verbalize since they’d started
this conversation. Though he didn’t look convinced by them, he didn’t push the
topic. Instead he extended his hand to her. It dawned on Minka he had no
intention of leaving her side. He thought she was drunk.
    Okay, she admitted to being a little tipsy but not drunk.
She was sober enough to realize he was breaking their connection and the kiss topic was closed.
    She placed her hand in his. Rough, scratchy fingers closed
gently around hers. A working man’s hands, she thought. She liked the feel of
him. He ran his thumb over the back of her palm, sending chills dancing up and
down her spine. She was without a doubt intoxicated by his presence.
    “I almost believed you.” The words slipped out of her mouth
unexpectedly. Where did this sudden boldness come from? Perhaps she was a little
more than tipsy.
    “About what?”
    “When you said you wanted to….um…kiss me.” Oh, God, did she
really say that? Who was this person talking? Quiet, insecure Minka would never
utter words like that.
    Two large hands cupped her face, brushed away strands of loose
curls acting as a curtain from her eyes, breaking the defensive wall they
served.
    “I wasn’t joking. I want to kiss you very much.” He
continued to look at her. “You have the most alluring lips. I wanted to kiss
you last night.” Lust permeated his voice.
    The words were so raw, so sexual. No man had ever spoken to
her that way. Everything in her told her to run. Nothing good could come of her
kissing him, much less entertaining the thoughts he was evoking. Yet, here she
was standing by the women’s bathroom with this gorgeous man and he was telling
her things she never thought she would hear from someone of the opposite sex.
    He made her feel beautiful, sexy, and lightheaded.
    “Oh. Okay.” Damn it,
Minka! This time, Jason didn’t laugh or smile. All signs of amusement faded
away and were replaced by desire. She glanced over his lips; they had to be the
most kissable lips she had ever seen.
    Please kiss me ,
she wanted to say, but the words would not form. Not only because she wasn’t
the type of person who expressed words like that, but mostly because she wasn’t
quite sure where her need came from.
    He studied her. She assumed it was because he thought her
judgment was clouded by alcohol. This time, she didn’t try to hide; instead she
looked fixedly back at him with equal desire.
    His head lowered toward hers, closing the space between
them. Her lips immediately parted, waiting for him to take full possession. But
then, he paused and ran his