While the Fire Rages by Joan Hohl Read Free Book Online

with her ability to refuse him.
    “Yes, that is a no.” Had she actually replied in that oh-so-cool, touch-me-not tone? Had she actually declined, when she was on fire and he was the only extinguisher? Was she, infect, completely out of her mind? Hadn’t she wept and writhed through most of the previous night in an agony of need for his touch, his possession?
    The questions tumbled, rapid fire, through Jo’s mind while she strove to maintain a modicum of composure. She wanted him—yes, but not like this! Not at the casually proposed offer of breakfast. Breakfast, for heaven’s sake!
    The rotten bastard! Jo shocked herself with the silent accusation. But she loved him, she excused herself. While he, he has the unmitigated gall to suggest he share my bed — -for the paltry sum of filling my stomach!
    Jo was forced to lower her fork to the table as a shudder shook her slender frame, Brett obviously saw and misinterpreted her movement.
    “Have I shocked your sensitive little soul?” he taunted softly. With a minimum of expanded energy, he slid from his stool to the one beside her. As he leaned still closer Jo felt his warm breath caress her ear. “I can guarantee satisfaction with both performances—in the kitchen and the bedroom.”
    Jo, teetering on the edge of capitulation, and desperate because of it, steeled herself against the entreaty in his soft tone. When the much yearned-for male lips brushed her ear, she jerked away frantically.
    “Stop it!” Jo did not have to fabricate the angry tone; she was angry! All of a sudden she was explosively angry. The only explanation for his behavior that made any kind of sense was that she’d betrayed herself, her true feelings, to him. Positive he was merely tormenting her for having the temerity to fall in love with a Renninger, Jo lashed out at him defensively. “No, you have not shocked my sensitive little soul. I’ve been propositioned before.” With cold deliberation, she injected a sneer onto her lips, venom into her tone. “And one does not take note of an amateur when one has been approached by an expert.”
    Jo hadn’t the vaguest idea what she was saying, yet, whatever it was, it worked. Brett, his expression suddenly blank, went stiff all over. Moving slowly, he straightened, then stood up and carried his barely touched meal to the sink. The sound of the food being scraped into the disposal was loud and abrasive,
    “An expert!” Brett’s soft, considering statement was not aimed at her. Still, made fearful by his stillness as he stood beside the sink, she raised challenging eyes to his.
    “An expert,” he repeated even more softly. “Of course.”
    The challenge in Jo’s eyes was replaced by bafflement. Something in his tone conveyed acceptance—of some truth or other. But what? She had no idea what she was even talking about; how could he?
    “Brett?”  Jo didn’t have an inkling of what to say to him. All she knew was she had to break through his strange stillness.
    “Never mind.” Moving abruptly, Brett strode from the kitchen. “Let’s get this work cleaned up so we can get out of here.”
    Following his example, Jo scraped her own plate, then stacked their dishes in the dishwasher. As she absently performed the light kitchen duty, Jo told herself she absolutely had to get more sleep. She was beginning to talk off the top of her head, which, in itself, was bad enough. But, it would appear, she was also beginning to believe Brett fully understood her gibberish, and that was scary.
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    Chapter 3
    You are without doubt the most blundering of blundering fools on the entire East Coast.
    Brett was, again, taking up space in front of the wide window. It was now some two hours since he’d stormed— childishly, he admitted to himself ruefully—out of the kitchen.
    What devil had possessed him, prompting him to issue such an idiotic proposition? He didn’t even like the woman, let alone desire her!
    So your mind says, now convince your