Read Online Heart of the Hunter by Bj James - Free Book Online Page B

swimsuit you’re wearing. Little strips of cloth that are nothing more than color on skin do strange things to a man’s blood pressure.”
    â€œMy suit?” Nicole looked down at the ancient bikini. When she’d taken her shirt off to gather up the sand dollars he’d found, she hadn’t given it a thought. In fact, she’d forgotten the suit was faded and so thin...
    â€œOh no!” So thin every contour of her breasts and nipples showed as clearly as if she were naked.
    â€œOh, yes.” Jeb slanted her a grin.
    â€œOh, Lord, you must think...”
    â€œI haven’t been thinking anything, except how I could persuade you to take the rest of the day off from work.”
    â€œWork? The rest of the day?”
    â€œIt is Monday, isn’t it? You did plan to open the gallery.”
    â€œOh, no.” She raised her face skyward, finding the fully risen sun. “What time is it?”
    â€œTen minutes past the time you should have left the island. If you were going to open the gallery.”
    â€œThere’s no ‘if’ to it. I have an appointment with the old biddy today.”
    â€œThe old biddy?”
    â€œMrs. Atherton,”
    â€œOf course, Mrs. Atherton.” He had no idea who Mrs. Atherton was.
    â€œShe’s a pain in the tush and a snob, but she does spend a lot of money with us.” Nicole shaded her eyes and squinted at the sun again, judging her chances of making the appointment. “How late did you say it was?”
    â€œA minute later than when you asked before.”
    â€œEleven minutes, I can do that.” Then she was running down the beach, like a dark-haired child racing with the wind.
    â€œNicole!” When she didn’t answer, he called again. “Nicole! What are you going to do?”
    She whirled about in the sand, her hair flying, her breasts nearly spilling from the suit as it threatened to slide into ignominy. “I’m going to make up eleven minutes.”
    â€œYou can’t.”
    â€œYes I can. Just pray that Charlie’s not on duty today.”
    â€œCharlie? Who’s Charlie?”
    â€œThe patrolman who loves to play coyote and roadrunner with me.” The last was tossed over her shoulder as she settled into a ground-eating jog.
    â€œWait,” Jeb called as he waded out of the water. Scooping up her shirt, he watched as she turned left and raced up a bank of stairs. She disappeared over a dune as he finished what he’d meant to say. “You forgot your shirt.”
    * * *
    â€œI should have known,” Nicole muttered as she tossed her jacket aside. Kicking off her shoes, she sank into a chaise, poured a glass of wine and propped her aching feet, one over the other. With her eyes closed, she raised the tulip-shaped goblet to her forehead, soothing lines of repressed anger with its delicate bowl.
    Without opening her eyes, she listened to the surf wash over the shore as she sipped the wine. She’d poured a dark, velvety cabernet, not her usual Riesling or Grenache. For tonight she’d wanted something rich and bold with a kick. As she’d wanted to kick Mrs. Atherton, straight out of the gallery.
    â€œHypocrite,” she declared and sipped again. “There ought to be a law.”
    Settling farther into the chaise lounge, she considered dinner, and dismissed it. It was too late, and she was far too comfortable to bother. After today she deserved a quiet, comfortable evening.
    She’d just drained her second glass and was succumbing to a delicious little haze when the bell at the front door rang. The temptation to ignore it was strong, and she was still considering it when the bell rang twice more in quick succession.
    â€œI should have known.” She struggled from the chaise. “A perfect ending to a perfect day.”
    Not bothering to find her shoes, she padded to the door, the crinkled fabric of her skirt brushing over her bare feet. Normally she