The Temptress by Jude Deveraux Read Free Book Online Page B

skinny for you.”
    She started to stand but he caught her arm, grinning at her, but she kept her head down. He was making her so angry!
    He put his finger under her chin. “You don’t think you’ll be sagging in a year or two? As old as you are?” There was laughter in his voice. “You don’t think I like skinny little girls who follow me around and ask me questions?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Chris whispered and felt exactly like a little girl. She’d never wanted anything as much as she wanted this man to like her.
    â€œSlim, pretty little blondes are my favorite,” he whispered.
    Chris looked up at him with eyes sparkling with tears and, as he moved his head toward her, she knew he was going to kiss her, so she closed her eyes and parted her lips in anticipation.
    â€œWhat the hell am I doing?” he said and pushed Chris so that she landed on her seat a foot away from him. “Get out of here right now! You hear me? Don’t come near me again. You’re right that I like a different type woman. Virginal nurses who follow me around are the type I like least. Now go back to camp and don’t even get near me again!”
    Chris, a little frightened by his temper, ran up the trail to the path back to camp.

Chapter Five
    When Chris reached the camp, out of breath from running, Asher was sitting by a cheery fire, smiling up at her. He began to talk to her about the forest, but Chris was barely listening. She was wondering why Tynan had been sent to jail.
    â€œChris! Are you listening to me?” Asher asked.
    â€œYes, of course,” she said, looking at him but not listening.
    Later, when she was snuggled inside her blankets, she lay awake for a long time. She could barely see the stars through the trees but she watched the leaves and the blackness above. At night this forest was a frightening place.
    She’d been awake for over an hour when she heard a soft sound to her right. She knew it was Tynan come to see that they were all right. She’d never seen a man take his responsibilities more seriously.
    Her eyes were fully open as she watched him walk about the camp, checking that Asher was covered, that the horses were properly tethered, that the food was covered and that the fire was out. When he came to Chris he started slightly to see her eyes open.
    â€œYou should be asleep,” he said, standing over her. “You have to get up early tomorrow.”
    â€œHow is the trail ahead?”
    Asher stirred in his bedroll and Ty knelt beside Chris, lowering his voice. She raised on one elbow.
    â€œIt’s all right, just some brush across it, but I cleared most of it.”
    â€œDid you get anything to eat?”
    She saw the whiteness of his teeth as he grinned at her. “You are going to make some man a wonderful mother. Yes, I ate. Now go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”
    She lay down on the hard bedroll but he didn’t leave.
    â€œMiss Mathison, I’m sorry about this afternoon. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. It’s just that I think we should keep this trip on an employee, employer basis. As I pointed out to you, I haven’t been around women for a while and there are things that are difficult for me.”
    â€œDo I make things difficult for you?” she whispered in such a way that there was no doubt of her meaning. She hoped he’d say she was making his life hell.
    He rocked back on his heels and grinned at her again. “Not anything that I can’t handle. Now, be a good girl and go to sleep.”
    â€œNo good-night kisses?” she asked, a little angry at his laughing at her.
    â€œNot from me,” he said and she smiled because there was horror in his voice. As he walked away, she turned over on her stomach and went to sleep.
    The first thing that greeted Chris the next morning was the sight of Tynan bending over the fire. His hair was damp and there were fresh fish