Willow Smoke by Adriana Kraft Read Free Book Online

buzzer continued ringing sporadically. “Go away,” she grumbled. “It’s Monday. It’s my day off.”
    Scrambling off the futon, she grabbed her robe and poked her arms through the armholes as she
strode angrily toward the entry. She’d have to remember to get the landlord to fix that damn buzzer. Maybe she should just snip its wires.
    Daisy peered through the peephole and grew deathly still. Why had he come? She didn’t want him to
know this part of her world. With fingers trembling slightly, she turned the knob and opened the door.
    “Morning, kid. Damn, you
look quite fetching with sleep still in those lovely smoky eyes of yours.” Nicholas Underwood strolled into her living room like he’d been there many times before, like he belonged. “Come on, girl. Get your
butt in gear —hell, it’s mid-morning. It’s your day off. We’re going to do Wrigley today. Enough of the books and pedigrees. I need a break. We need a break.”
    Daisy stood in the entryway as if her feet were poured in cement and she was still waiting for it to dry.
    “You got any coffee here? I’ll make it while you get into some clothes.” Nick licked his lips. “Don’t know why you bothered to put that robe on; it doesn’t hide a damn thing unless you tie it.”
    Daisy’s hands flew to her ears. “Stop. Stop talking, please. How did you get here? Why are you here? My robe!” She pulled the robe tight around her body and knotted
the sash. Her cheeks must be scarlet.
    “Damn, I hope you don’t go answering the door like that for just any guy who happens by.”
    “Guys don’t happen by without calling first. Now that you’re here, you might as well make yourself useful. The coffee is on the counter in the kitchen. Two scoops for eight cups. I’m
going to get dressed.”
    Daisy padded toward her bedroom with as much grace as she could muster and then slammed the door behind her so hard the hinges rattled.
    The nerve of the man getting her out of bed. Was he checking up on her? A boyfriend could have slept over. Right! Well, it was possible . Yeah, and sewer rats can sprout wings.
    Had he said something about the Cubs? Wrigley. The Cubs. What did you wear to a baseball game? Probably no different than the track. She tugged on a pair of white shorts and wiggled into a yellow spaghetti-string tank top. Under the tank top was a sheer bra that held things in place, but didn’t cover much up. She touched each nipple playfully until they were on full alert. Looking in the mirror, she chuckled softly. Underwood had come to her uninvited; she wasn’t about to run away and hide. He might think of her as a kid, but someday he’d realize she was more than enough woman for him to handle.
    She entered the kitchen running a brush through her tangled hair. Underwood sat at the card table sipping coffee. He took one brief look at her and spewed coffee from his lips. Quickly, he grabbed a paper towel to clean up the mess. Daisy continued brushing her hair, ignoring his discomfort.
    “Geez, kid, if you’re
going to put on a show, save it for a guy your own age. Can’t you find anything that’d cover up your belly button? I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep all the guys from pawing you, if you go out like that.”
    “I’m used to taking care
of myself.” Daisy set the hairbrush down and poured herself a cup of coffee. She hid her smile. She had his attention. Was Nicholas Underwood as aware of his arousal as she was? “I didn’t ask you here. If I’m too ugly for your taste, you can leave now.”
    “Holy shit. I never
meant to imply that you’re ugly. You’re too damn gorgeous for my
heart.”
    She sat down, crossed her legs and followed his eyes as they took in the view. Nonchalantly, she wiggled her toes.
    He gasped.
    Thank God for those tapes on seduction. Nicholas Underwood was going to be easier than she’d thought. If he got any hotter, his glasses would steam over. But not
yet. No, there were still things to be done. She