Read Online Heartbreaker by Linda Howard - Free Book Online Page A

flashed with green fire as she looked at him. “I’m not turning myself into a whore, even for you! Did you think I’d jump at the chance to sleep with you? Your reputation must be going to your head… stud .”
    He knew people called him that, but when Michelle said it, the word dripped with disdain. He’d always hated that particular tone, so icy and superior, and it made him see red now. He bent down until his face was level with hers, their noses almost touching, and his black eyes were so fiery that she could see gold sparks in them. “When we’re in bed, honey, you can decide for yourself about my reputation.”
    â€œI’m not going to bed with you,” she said through clenched teeth, spacing the words out like dropping stones into water.
    â€œThe hell you’re not. But it won’t be for this damned ranch.” Straightening to his full height again, he caught her arm. “Let’s get that business settled right now, so it’ll be out of the way and you can’t keep throwing it in my face.”
    â€œYou’re the one who put it on that basis,” she shot back as they returned to the kitchen. He dropped several ice cubes in a glass and filled it with water, then draped his big frame on one of the chairs. She watched his muscular throat working as he drained the glass, and a weak, shivery feeling swept over her. Swiftly she looked away, cursing her own powerful physical response to the mere sight of him.
    â€œI made a mistake,” he said tersely, putting the glass down with a thump. “Money has nothing to do with it. We’ve been circling each other from the day we met, sniffing and fighting like cats in heat. It’s time we did something about it. As for the debt, I’ve decided what I want. Deed that land you were going to sell over to me instead, and we’ll be even.”
    It was just like him to divide her attention like that, so she didn’t know how to react or what to say. Part of her wanted to scream at him for being so smugly certain she would sleep with him, and part of her was flooded with relief that the debt had been settled so easily. He could have ruined her by insisting on cash, but he hadn’t. He wasn’t getting a bad deal, by any means; it was good, rich pastureland he was obtaining, and he knew it.
    It was a reprieve, one she hadn’t expected, and she didn’t know how to deal with it, so she simply sat and stared at him. He waited, but when she didn’t say anything he leaned back in his chair, his hard face becoming even more determined. “There’s a catch,” he drawled.
    The high feeling of relief plummeted, leaving her sick and empty. “Let me guess,” she said bitterly, shoving her chair back and standing. So it had all come down to the same thing, after all.
    His mouth twisted wryly in self-derision. “You’re way off, honey. The catch is that you let me help you. My men will do the hard labor from now on, and if I even hear of you trying to put up fencing again, you’ll be sitting on a pillow for a month.”
    â€œIf your men do my work, I’ll still be in debt to you.”
    â€œI don’t consider it a debt; I call it helping a neighbor.”
    â€œI call it a move to keep me obligated!”
    â€œCall it what you like, but that’s the deal. You’re one woman, not ten men; you’re not strong enough to take care of the livestock and keep the ranch up, and you don’t have the money to afford help. You’re mighty short on options, so stop kicking. It’s your fault, anyway. If you hadn’t liked to ski so much, you wouldn’t be in this position.”
    She drew back, her green eyes locked on him. Her face was pale. “What do you mean?”
    John got to his feet, watching her with the old look that said he didn’t much like her. “I mean that part of the reason your daddy borrowed the money from me