Read Online A Taste of Honey by Iris Leach - Free Book Online Page B

death?”
    “It was an open invitation to me and every thief within a mile radius. Besides, I have certain privileges.”
    “How come?”
    “Goes with rank.” He grinned and with supreme effort, she controlled her mouth from responding. “Open the front door.”
    He winked when she opened the door. “Hi, just passing by, saw your lights on and thought hey, she might give me a cup of coffee.”
    “Well, you thought wrong.” She moved back into the living room, picked up a towel and wiped her face and arms.
    He laughed softly and took the towel from her and wiped the back of her neck and shoulders. She swung angrily away from him, grabbing the towel. “I don’t need a nursemaid, thanks, Will. I’m perfectly capable of dry toweling my body.”
    “And it was giving me such pleasure.”
    She flicked her hair. “Too bad.” She sniffed.
    “Why are you always so angry?”
    “I’m not angry, it’s just that you make me feel — ”
    He moved in closer. “Sexy?”
    “Queasy.”
    “Is that a nice word for nauseated?”
    She worried her bottom lip. She didn’t actually want to hurt him by acerbic retorts, but she wanted to put him in his rightful place, wherever that may be and it was true he did make her feel uneasy, a sort of seasickness sensation she always got when he was around her.
    She’d nothing to fear from Will Knight. He didn’t affect her in any way except maybe her libido.
    She could handle him. The situation. Why she could handle anything that came her way with both hands tied behind her back.
    She lusted after Will. He was, except for his arrogance and stubborn streak, a gorgeous man. And he turned her on hot and willing. It’d been a long time since a man had had that power over her. Who was she kidding? She’d never known a man who had tingled as much as her big toe. When Will kissed her, she’d actually heard bells. Now, that had to mean something, didn’t it?
    Holy crap. She didn’t want his kisses to mean anything to her. She didn’t want this man with an ego the size of Mount Everest to affect her in the slightest way.
    A conundrum. She’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her. So what had been the problem? Why had she sent him packing and crept back into her lonely bed like a nun on retreat?
    It didn’t make sense.
    It must be that she was confused. Yes, that was it; total confusion. He was harassing her about marriage and, and — she mentally sighed — and every other damn thing she’d always wanted in her life.
    It couldn’t be love. Love didn’t just happen. It was an over-the-years-and-took-patience-and-understanding type of occurrence. It was courtship, deepening affection, love, and marriage.
    What was happening now? She was caught up in a web of excitement like some helpless fly and Will the spider coming to eat her. Hmm.
    She changed the subject completely. “I’m about to have a coffee, want some?”
    He nodded, and followed her into the kitchen. She grabbed the percolator and filled it with water.
    He slumped onto a chair. “My mother wants to meet you. We’re invited for dinner next Saturday.”
    She jerked. Water splashed over her hand and arms. With trembling fingers, she scooped coffee into the filter and put the coffee on to percolate. She slumped into a chair opposite him. She stretched out her feet and stared dejectedly at her toes. “Does — ” she swallowed, “Does your mother know about us already?”
    “She does.”
    His confirmation in those two controlled words had her rising out of her chair, only to find he had risen as well. He moved to stand directly in front of her.
    Charli was horrified. “How could you tell her so soon? I wasn’t ready. I need time to gather my thoughts. I have to think about things. This is too fast.” She grabbed his sweater and shook him. “You’ve got to give me time.”
    He prized free her fear-stricken fingers. “Hey, go easy. You’re bending the wool.”
    She curled her fingers. “How about I bend your