Read Online Dancing in the Dark by Linda Cajio - Free Book Online Page A

The one with the tempting name. Charity.”
    “I don’t live up to it, remember?”
    “I have a feeling you live up to it very well, after a man gets past your reserve.”
    “And you think you can.”
    “I’ll damn well try.”
    “Good night, Jake,” she said softly, and just as softly hung up the receiver.
    “Good night, Charity,” a faint voice said through the wall.
    She laughed.
    Jake knocked on Charity’s door with every intention of platonically escorting her and Mary to breakfast. He was proud of himself for not tearing the wall down the night before to get at her. Unfortunately, his quota of sleep fell far short that morning.
    The door opened. Charity was wearing a lemon-yellow linen dress that outlined every curve without being provocative. Her hair was pulled back in a French braid, the style giving her eyes a catlike quality—mysterious yet bold. Soft cotton and softer talk of the night before came back in a rush.
    “I’ll just get my briefcase and jacket,” she said.
    “Fine.” His voice was hoarse. The urge was overwhelming to take up in a nonverbal way where their conversation had left off the previous night. He couldn’t remember wanting anyone more than he wanted Charity Brown.
    He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Charity had turned away to get her things.Unthinking, he reached out and turned her back, pulling her against him. He kissed her, tasting the smoothness of her lipstick on her lips. He couldn’t stop himself; he didn’t even know how to try. Not with Charity. She was rapidly becoming an obsession.
    He could feel her surprise, then her hesitation, but he was too hungry for her just to let her go. Holding her more tightly to him, he felt her breasts press into his chest and the length of her legs brush sensuously against his. He was careful not to let his hand drop below her waist, but he allowed himself the pleasure of caressing her back, feeling the feminine bone and flesh beneath the smoothness of the linen. Her mouth relaxed under his and opened, allowing his tongue to find hers. The kiss deepened, turning from dark sensuality to raw need. Her hands clung to his shoulders, and his heart quickened, sending his blood roaring through him.
    Sanity returned with the lack of air in his lungs. Jake raised his head. Charity slowly fluttered open her eyelids. Her eyes were unfocused for an instant, then panic flared in them.
    “I’m not apologizing,” Jake said, holding her when she would have pulled away. “I’ll be damned before I apologize for that.”
    “You know how I feel about this,” she said.
    “I know what you think is right. But you ought to start thinking about what else is right for you.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “And you think you’re it?”
    “I think I could be,” he said, his tone assured, “if you’d only give this a chance.”
    “Don’t we have a presentation to do?”
    He kissed her swiftly, then let her go. “Go fix your lipstick.”
    “Go fix yours.” She walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
    Jake turned and looked at his face in the mirror on the closet door. Coral-red lipstick was smeared across his lips. Not bad, he thought as he took out his handkerchief and wiped it off. And how it got there was even better.
    Charity emerged from the bathroom, lipstick in place. She gazed levelly at him and said, “This won’t happen again.”
    He smiled. “I think it will. And I don’t think you can stop it.”
    “I can stop it.”
    Judging from her stiff stance, set jaw, and clenched fists, Jake thought, she was furious. His smile faded, but he didn’t intend to give up. “We’ll see. Shall we go and sell a contract?”
    She slipped out the door without a word.
    Jake followed her just as Mary was emerging from her room. If she thought anything of the two of them exiting the same room, it didn’t show on her face. But Charity’s shoulders stiffened even more. Jake knew she was feeling compromised and wished