Write to Me by Nona Raines Read Free Book Online Page A

far from here.” The invitation popped from his mouth without him planning it. “We could go there for a hot drink while our clothing dries.”
    From the way she tilted her head and peered at him, he thought for certain she’d refuse. Maybe she suspected him of putting the moves on her, but seduction wasn’t foremost on his mind—until he fell under the spell of her dark eyes.
    But she surprised him. “All right.”

Chapter Five
    Bryan took Gloria’s hand, and together they left the gazebo and the park. His place was four blocks away, far enough for them to get drenched when the clouds opened again to deliver a short, furious pounding of rain.
    By the time they reached his apartment, their hair was flattened to their skulls and their clothing plastered to their skin. Gloria’s teeth chattered. As Bryan unlocked his door, he tried not to focus on the way her nipples bunched against the thin fabric of her sundress.
    “Please come in.” He gestured her inside and swept his arm toward the sofa. “Have a seat.”
    Gloria shook her head, looking as forlorn as a wet cat. “I’m soaked. I don’t want to ruin your furniture.”
    He cursed himself for letting her stand there shivering. “Hold on.” From the bathroom, he fetched a fresh bath towel and draped it around her shoulders. As she wiped the wetness from her face and hair, he grabbed a towel for himself. Scrubbing the terry cloth against his scalp, he stalked to the bedroom and pulled a silk bathrobe from the closet. An almost forgotten Christmas gift from his mother, he never wore it. Never had reason to, but now he was glad he hadn’t tossed it.
    He brought the robe back to the living room and handed it to Gloria. “Why don’t you go into the bathroom, take off your wet clothes, and put this on. There’s a dryer in the laundry room we can use.” He hesitated. “Will it be all right to put your dress in the dryer?”
    “It’ll have to be.” She smiled. “No, it’s fine. Thank you.”
    When she retired to the bathroom, he hurried to his room to strip off his wet clothes. Even his underwear was damp. Leaving his wet things in a lump on the floor, he quickly changed into a dry T-shirt and a pair of sweat pants.
    He returned to the living room and found her in his robe, which though knee-length on him, fell to mid-calf on her. The sleeves drooped far beyond her wrists. She must have used his comb, because her hair was neatly smoothed back from her forehead and down her shoulders. Wet hair and baggy robe didn’t matter. She was luscious.
    Her brown eyes gave him the once-over. “You look comfortable.”
    “You look lovely.” It was no lie.
    She gave a disbelieving laugh and rolled her eyes. A moment of uncertain silence passed when he realized he was gazing at her silk-draped form too intently.
    He cleared his throat. “Uh, sit down. Please. I promised you something to drink. Will hot tea be all right?”
    “Fine, thanks.” She sat. “Oh, I left my things in the bathroom.”
    He turned the heat on under the teakettle, then took her dress from where she’d draped it over the shower rod. He found no panties or bra, so she must still have them on under the robe.
    “I’ll just pop down to the laundry room and put this in the dryer,” he told her.
    “Put the setting on warm,” she said. “It shouldn’t take long to dry.”
    “Be right back.”
    She was in the kitchen, pouring steaming water into mugs, when he returned from the laundry room. “The kettle was whistling, so I took it upon myself…”
    “That’s fine. You found the tea bags, I see.”
    “Yes. In the cupboard over the sink, exactly where I keep mine.” That serendipitous coincidence made her smile.
    For the first time ever, Bryan wished he had some decent china instead of his mismatched collection of mugs. She should be drinking from a delicate gilded teacup instead of some cheap mug he’d picked up from God knew where.
    They bustled around his tiny kitchen, finding the