Read Online Feeling the Heat by Brenda Jackson - Free Book Online

of moving his mouth that was so downright sensual it was a crying shame. It had taken all she had just to get through breakfast this morning.
    “I don’t think going out to dinner with you is a good idea,” she finally said.
    “And why not?”
    “Mainly because you forgot to add the word enemy to the list to describe our relationship. I don’t like you.”
    He simply grinned. “Well, I happen to like you a lot. And I don’t consider us enemies. Besides, you’re not the injured party here, I am. I’m an innocent man, falsely accused of something he didn’t do.”
    She turned back to the microscope as she spoke. “I see things differently.”
    “I know you do, so why can’t you go out to eat with me since nothing I say or do will change your mind? I merely invited you to dinner because I noticed you worked through lunch. But if you’re afraid to be with me then I—”
    “I’m not afraid to be with you.”
    “So you say,” he said, turning to leave. Before reaching the door, he shot her a smile over his shoulder. “If you change your mind about dinner, I’ll be leaving here around seven and you can meet me downstairs in the lobby.”
    Kalina watched him leave. She disliked him, so she wasn’t sure why her hormones could respond to him the way they did. The depth of desire she felt around him was unreal. And dangerous. It only heightened the tension between them, and the thought that he wanted them to share dinner filled her with a heat she could very well do without.
    The best thing for her to do was to stay in and order room service. That was the safest choice. But then, why should she be a coward? She, of all people, knew that Micah did not have a place in her life anymore. So, despite his mild flirtation—and that’s what it was whether he admitted to it or not—she would not succumb. Nor would she lock herself in her room because she couldn’t control her attraction to him. It was time that she learned to control her response to him. There would be other assignments when they would work together, and she needed to put their past involvement behind her once and for all.
    She stood and checked her watch, deciding she would have dinner with Micah after all. But she would make sure that she was the one in control at all times.

Five
    A t precisely seven o’clock, Micah stepped out of the elevator hoping he hadn’t overplayed his hand. When he glanced around the lobby and saw Kalina sitting on one of the sofas, he felt an incredible sense of relief. He had been prepared to dine alone if it had come to that, but he’d more than hoped that she was willing to dine with him.
    He walked over to her. From the expression on her face, it was obvious she was apprehensive about them dining together, so he intended to make sure she enjoyed herself—even as he made sure she remembered what they’d once shared. A shiver of desire raced up his spine when she saw him and stood. She was wearing a dress that reminded him of what a nice pair of legs she had. And her curvy physique seemed made for that outfit.
    He had gone over his strategy upstairs in case she joined him. He wouldn’t make a big deal of her accompanying him. However, he would let her know he appreciated her being there.
    He stopped when he reached her. “Kalina. You look nice tonight.”
    “Thanks. I think we need to get a couple of things straight.”
    He figured she would say that. “Let’s wait until we get to the restaurant. Then you can let go all you want,” he replied, taking her arm and placing it in the crux of his.
    He felt her initial resistance before she relaxed. “Fine, but we will have that conversation. I don’t have a problem joining you for dinner, but I don’t want you getting any ideas.”
    Too late. He had gotten plenty already. He smiled. “You worry too much. There’s no need for me to ask if you trust me because I know you don’t. But can you cut me a little slack?”
    Kalina held his gaze for a moment longer than