Read Online Burning Up by Anne Marsh - Free Book Online

If it was my choice, your fine ass would be climbing back into your truck, and you’d be headed back into town.” God, the memories she had of riding in that truck—and what had happened afterward. “You can’t use sex and charm to get your way here. It won’t work.”
    His slow smile still made her insides go hot, damn him. “You sure about that, baby?”
    â€œI know all about you, Jack. What I didn’t know in high school, I’ve learned since. You and your brothers had a reputation practically from the day you hit this town.” As they’d grown up, Nonna’s boys had been wild, sexy as hell, but with a fine sense of honor that ran bone-deep. They played hard but only with those who were willing. Ten years ago, she’d almost been one of that number. Now, she reminded herself, she was out of the running.
    â€œHell,” she grumbled, “you might as well invite me to move into your hangar. People wouldn’t talk any more.”
    The wry tilt of his head acknowledged the hit. “People talk,” he admitted quietly. “But they don’t always have all the facts, Lily. We both know that. There’s more at stake here than a handful of words someone gave you about my brothers and me. If you were concerned about those rumors, you should have brought your concern to me.”
    â€œDon’t tell me you didn’t earn that reputation, Jack.”
    That slow, sensual grin of his did something to her, and she prayed it wasn’t permanent. “We earned it, baby. Damn right. Want to find out why?” He shrugged. “I didn’t think that was your kind of thing.”
    It was that kind of wicked hint that had earned him the reputation he had.
    â€œRain check,” she said lightly, stepping away from him.
    His arm shot out, loosely shackling her wrist. She got the message. He wasn’t done with her yet. That made her mad. Still, the sooner she heard him out, the sooner he’d get the message and leave.
    â€œThis isn’t a game, Lily.” He shook his head, dead serious. “Until I’ve got these fires sorted, you and I are an item. Whoever your stalker is, he’ll think twice about messing with you if we’re seen as a couple. A woman alone is easier to harass. You play along with me, and we’ll pull it off. If everyone thinks we’ve picked back up where we left off, it will be more convincing.”
    â€œYou mean, if everyone else believes we’ve finally become lovers.”
    â€œYes.” His eyes held hers. “If we’re lovers, there will be fewer questions.”
    â€œYou’re not going to give up on this, are you, Jack?”
    â€œYou could enjoy this, you know,” he pointed out. “It doesn’t have to be all about business.”
    â€œAre you asking me out, Jack Donovan?”
    He paused, those dark eyes warming. “I could be, baby. If that’s what you want. We were good together before. We’d be even better now. Think about it.” His voice dropped, the sexy growl making her panties dampen impossibly. “Think about us, Lilybell. I’d like more—wouldn’t you?”
    â€œAnd you’ll be out of here at the end of the summer, Jack,” she said.
    â€œWe’ve got months until summer ends,” he growled.
    â€œYou always did like to plan ahead.”
    â€œAnd you lived for the moment,” she snapped. “Fine. You want to stay here, you stay here. Please yourself.”
    Spinning on her heel, she stalked up the stairs, aware the whole way of the heated presence at her back, climbing the steps behind her. The farmhouse’s bedrooms were picturesque, narrow slices of space tucked beneath painted eaves. The open windows brought in the scent of drying lavender as soon as she stepped through the door of one of them.
    â€œHome, sweet home,” she said, indicating the bed with a wave of her hand. Jack’s