What Janie Wants by Rhenna Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

hasn’t been on a date in two decades.”
    A sheer curtain billowed between them. Zade caught it and held it back. “Then cut a guy some slack and go inside.”
    She studied him and bit her lower lip.
    Damn, he wanted a taste. To nip and lick that same spot. Devour her mouth until it was plump and two shades darker than her rose lipstick. “Arlo’s a wiry man, but he and Dahlia would castrate me if I hurt any woman, let alone, a guest. And that’s assuming my mother didn’t do the job first. But there’s no pressure. If you’d rather wait, we can go back up—”
    “ I’m fine.” She took a breath and met his stare head on. “To be clear though, don’t expect anything more than a visitor. When I’m ready to leave, I’m leaving.”
    He nodded, but on the inside he pulled a fist pump and gave himself a high five.
    “ It’s lovely.” She paused in the middle of the bungalow, scanned the open floor plan, and meandered toward the small, but well-appointed kitchen along one side. “So what did you want to show me?”
    Damn. If she’d laughed before, his next pitch would put her over the edge. He tried to couch his smile, but couldn’t hide the lip twitch. He motioned to the raised section along the back of the bungalow and the king size bed in the center. “If you want the full effect, you need to lie on the bed.”
    She spun to face him, one eyebrow cocked high.
    “ Seriously,” he said. “Swear to God, I’ll keep my distance.”
    Strolling into the living area, she swept her gaze along the cobalt blue sofa and love seat and pursed her lips.
    “ I’ll make you a promise,” he said. “The only way I’m getting in bed with you is if you invite me in. Deal?”
    She dragged her nails along the chenille armrest, contemplated the beach behind him through the open sliding glass doors a moment, and nodded. “Fine. I’ll play.” She dropped her shoes and purse on the thick Spanish tiles and padded up the steps to the bed. “Any particular side?”
    Guess he’d found a way to rile her after all. And thank God for that because spunky looked damned good on her. Fire and spirit. Flame and snap. He shook his head. “Wherever is comfortable, so long as I can watch.”
    She planted her fists on her hips, studied the bed, shrugged, and went for the closest side. Despite her moxie, she settled carefully, mindful of the taut, neatly made covers. She snuggled down, rested her head on the pile of pillows, and laid her hands on her belly, one on top of the other. “Okay. Ready.”
    The laugh jumped out faster than he could catch it. “Spoken like a true sacrificial virgin.” He ambled up the stairs.
    The fingers on her top hand tightened.
    He strolled to the nightstand beside her and reached for the small box mounted on top. “Look up.”
    She gauged him for a good long pause, and lay back.
    He pressed the red toggle switch on the box.
    A muted metal click echoed through the room and a light, motorized whir kicked in behind it. Moonlight slanted above the headboard, a sliver at first, stretching inch by slow inch, bathing Janie in its pearlescent glow.
    Janie sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes widened. “It’s like a giant moon roof.”
    “ More or less.” The motor click-click-clicked, signaling it had reached the end of its track, and Zade punched the toggle back to neutral.
    “ The Stargazer bungalow.” She rolled her head, and looked at him. “I’d never put the cover up.”
    Zade chuckled and crossed to one of two bedside gold club chairs. “You say that now, but around five thirty in the morning, you’d be singing a whole different tune.” He eased into the deep cushions and sat back, arms on the armrests and knees wide.
    Janie scrunched deeper into the pillows and drew her knees up at the same time. The moon did gorgeous things to her rich coloring, turning the contrast of her red hair and his white sheets into a sultry work of art. Fuck. He needed his camera and about ten memory