White Heat by Brenda Novak Read Free Book Online

way to Portal. “We don’t need tattoos.”
    â€œIt’ll take more than simply telling everyone we’re married to make them believe it.”
    â€œYou’ve got a ring, don’t you?”
    â€œA ring only signifies that we once exchanged vows. It doesn’t mean we have a close relationship. So…you tell me. How do you want to play this? Do you want us to seem sort of…estranged? Regretful that we tied the knot? On the brink of divorce?” She poked the tiny brush inside the polish and changed feet. “I could win an Oscar I’d be so good at that performance.”
    He’d hurt her six months ago, and now she didn’t like him. It bothered him, but it was better to have her not like him than like him too much. At least, that was how he felt most of the time. “That won’t work, not for this. We need to act as if we’re close.” Otherwise, he’d be less capable of protecting her.
    â€œThat’s what I thought you’d say. Or you would’ve gone in as my brother, like I wanted you to in the first place.”
    So that was what all this was about. She was punishing him, or trying to spook him into changing the nature of their pretend relationship before they arrived in Phoenix and found themselves locked into the arrangement.
    He would’ve been more than happy to accommodate her, but he wasn’t sure it’d be any easier to play brother and sister. There was too much sexual tension between them. They ignored it, of course. When he’d rejected her, he’d cut her pride so deeply she’d go without air before she’d ever admit to wanting him again. But since that night in January, the energy that flowed between them had only grown stronger. When they were at the office together, he was aware of every move she made, and he was afraid others were beginning to sense what they both so categorically denied. That kind of interest would hardly seem appropriate between siblings.
    â€œWe’ll have a close relationship, but no tattoos,” he reiterated.
    She dipped the brush again. “So you’re suggesting we let it all hang on a ring?”
    â€œWorks for me.”
    Finally dropping the manipulative tactics, shestraightened. “Oh, come on. Let’s just say you’re my brother! We don’t even want to get close enough to rub up against each other. How convincing will body language like that be?”
    Want had nothing to do with it. He glanced over to tell her they’d just have to improve their acting and caught a glimpse of her dress bunched up around her hips, bare legs plainly visible. Another inch or two and he could’ve spotted her panties.
    Rachel wasn’t trying to entice him. That was obvious from her careless attitude. She was so sure he wasn’t interested, she saw no point in being cautious, which wasn’t very wise if they were going to be living together. Maybe he wasn’t in love with her, but that didn’t mean he was blind. He could appreciate her physical assets the same as the next guy.
    â€œConvincing enough, I hope,” he said. “And one other thing.”
    She made a careful swipe with the polish, then another. “What’s that?”
    He waited for her to look at him. “Unless you want me to knock down that invisible wall you’ve constructed between us, I wouldn’t tease me if I were you. That’s not a punishment I’ll tolerate.”
    Her jaw sagged. “ Tease you?”
    When he shifted his gaze to her legs, his meaning finally seemed to register.
    â€œI’m painting my toenails!” she said. “You think I’m trying to punish you? That I’m trying to do it by arousing you?”
    She didn’t have to try. That was the problem. “Just put your dress down,” he said with a scowl. “And leave it there.”

4
    S he wasn’t the only one nervous about sharing a bedroom. Nate’s