Read Online Hong Kong Heat by Raven McAllan - Free Book Online Page B

ground to a halt a while back, because she wanted commitment and I didn’t. Then I met you and fell hook, line and sinker and why the fuck am I having this conversation in a hotel corridor where anyone can hear?”
    “Because I don’t want to invite a homicidal serial player into my room?” Debra stood back. “But you, I’ll give you the benefit of doubt. Come in, you’re making my doorway look untidy.”
    Braam chuckled. She had a way with words that deflated his anger as fast as it had risen. The news about her husband had shocked him almost as much as his over the top jumping to conclusions had disgusted him. To say he’d been hurt because he was sure she was someone who was about to be important in his life was no excuse. He had a major apology to make and eating crow was never pleasant.
    “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I appreciate the chance to apologize and make amends.”
    Debra closed the door behind him and sat back on the settee. She didn’t invite him to join her. “I hope I appreciate the apology. So?”
    So, she wasn’t going to make it easy and why should she? He was in the wrong.
    “I didn’t know your name, I looked at the guest register and saw you were registered as Mrs., and I was gutted. The first woman in ages—and I mean ages—I’ve felt more than a mild interest in was married. Yeah. If I had a punch bag handy, it’d be in bits. Luckily I stopped myself putting a hole in the wall with my fist. All I could think was why?”
    Debra stood up and opened the fridge. “Wine?”
    “Oh.” Braam brought his mind back to the present and thought about what she’d said. She’s not married. Oh, hell, hope she’s not in mourning. Surely not? “Yes, please, I’m now off for one day and two nights. Bliss.”
    “Congratulations, now talk.”
    So his lady wasn’t going to let him off lightly and why should she?
    “May I sit down?” He kept his voice flat and unemotional. She stared at him steadily until he felt like a schoolboy called to the headmistress’s office. Did she give the cane? Seven strokes? He winced. He wasn’t into pain, and he well remembered the cane at school. He hadn’t been the best-behaved child.
    “Of course.”
    Oh, starched and proper. He could do the same. Braam smiled and inclined his head. “Thank you.” He hitched his suit trousers over his knees and crossed one leg over the other. An action he knew would stretch the expensive material over his groin. She looked down, toward his cock very briefly, colored and looked away. His cock had responded with predictable interest the minute he was near her. He was going to have to get that reaction under control, or it was going to cause a lot of embarrassment.
    “Seriously, Deb, I know I overreacted, but damn it was a punch to the gut. I’ve never had such an immediate positive reaction to anyone.” He took a gamble. “Hell, I if ever I get within touching distance of you I get a hard-on that would break glass.”
    That made her giggle and take his glass from him. “It’s as well the coffee table is veneer then, eh? Shall I get you a plastic tumbler for your wine?”
    “No thanks.” He took his glass back. “I think I can control myself enough not to succumb.” He hoped. “Can we start again?”
    She shook her head.
    What? Braam wouldn’t have believed the sense of gloom and doom that filled him. His skin crawled and tiny black dots danced across his eyes. Surely she didn’t mean it was the end?
    “But we can move forward. The details in the hotel register are from my passport. I haven’t needed to renew it since Don died. It’s seven years into a ten year passport. Don died five years ago. It’s never mattered before.”
    Braam took a deep breath. “And it does now?”
    “You tell me.”
    He wanted to high five and punch the air. “Not now it doesn’t. Not now that I know.”
     
    How could she describe the intense relief that flowed through her? The tension that she hadn’t even perceived