Read Online Any Way You Want Me by Yuwanda Black - Free Book Online Page A

miss the actual scent of  a
person, he thought as her hair brushed against him.
     
               
Kylie was acutely aware of Gatlin. Even though she was ostensibly focused on
what was going on in front of her, she couldn't have repeated a word the
coroner said. Thank goodness she wouldn't have to due to the marvels of modern
technology like recording devices.
     
               
"Do you want to cab it back to the office together?" Gatlin said.
"I'm sure Larry would appreciate the expense report savings," he
continued, striving for a light tone.
     
               
"Sure," Kylie said. "Since we have to get right down to putting
this story to bed, makes sense."
    .
. .
               
               
"I'm tuckered out," Kylie said three hours later as they filed the
final version of the story -- at least this installment. Larry, her managing
editor, had been right. This story had legs. Almost four months later, there
was still new things coming to light about the deceased starlet that made it a
hot story still.
     
               
Kylie lifted her arms over her head and stretched back in her chair.
     
               
She'd forgotten just how much fun it was working with Gatlin. Ideas flowed from
him quick, much like her mind worked. He was also a much better note taker than
she was, lending details she might have missed or had to dig for had they not
been working on the story together.
     
               
The thing she appreciated most about working with him though was that he was a
consummate professional, just like she was. In spite of the personal history
between them, once they got down to work, it didn't affect the process at all.
The work just flowed, as it had from day one.
     
               
"Yeah, me too," Gatlin said. "It's been a long one," he
responded to her remark about being tired.
     
               
Standing up to grab her purse, Kylie said, "Nice working with you again
Matthews," trying to keep things casual. "Have a good night,"
she said and turned to leave.
     
               
Now that work was done and the personal history between them was front and
center, Kylie wanted to escape as soon as possible. She'd forgotten how golden
his eyes were; how his face looked with stubble on it; how his jeans fit just
right; how deep his voice was, and how incredibly sexy he smelled.
     
               
All of a sudden, she felt claustrophobic — suffocated by her need for him.
     
               
"Kylie, do you remember when you said to me, ' I believe in love — and I
won't let anybody take that dream away from me ,' he said all of a sudden,
taking her by surprise.
     
               
She stopped in mid-stride, her purse only half way on her shoulder, as she
turned around to face him.
     
               
"Yes, I do."
     
               
"I never wanted to take your dream away from you, you know. I wanted to
give it to you … but I didn't know how."
     
               
"What are you trying to say Gatlin?"
     
               
"That the sun will never shine as bright for me if you're not in my life
Kylie. And butterflies … well, they'll only ever be caterpillars for me without
you."
     
               
"I love you. I want to build a life with you because without you, I know
I'll only ever live a half life — not a full, joyous one filled with
butterflies and sunshine. You made me see the possibility of that life gift
Kylie, and I want to give you the same."
     
               
"Gatlin, I'm not quite sure what to say," she said bowing her head.
She didn't want to see the love so evident in those sparkling, cat-like eyes.
It was too hard because the problems that tore them apart remained. "I
…" she began.
     
               
"Will you just let me finish before you say anything?" he interrupted
her, almost pleading.
     
               
"Kylie