Read Online Lancelot's Lady by Cherish D'Angelo - Free Book Online

My name is Rhianna, " she signed.
    He signed his name.
    " Nice to meet you, Jonathan. "
    He reached to take her empty wineglass and his hand brushed hers. As before, a spark of energy made her pull back, her smile fading ever so slightly.
    Does he feel it too?
    Rhianna was alone with Jonathan for the first time all day. She felt like an awkward school girl, shy and unable to think of anything intelligent to say. So she stared at him instead. He paced the room, moving with feline grace, a jungle cat on the prowl. His eyes darted toward her and she looked away. Finally he sat on the edge of an armchair, poised to pounce.
    The silence was excruciating.
    She thought of JT. Was the old man okay? Was he worried because she hadn ' t called him? She hoped not. JT didn ' t need the stress.
    Jonathan cleared his throat, bringing her back to the present. " Rhianna, I-uh…I ' d like to take you up on your offer. Misty could really use some signing lessons, and since you ' re here I thought, perhaps… "
    " You want me to teach her. " It was a statement, not a question.
    " If you wouldn ' t mind. " He exhaled. " I know you ' re supposed t o be on holiday― "
    She gave him a wry smile. " Some holiday this has turned out to be. "
    " I ' ll pay you, of course. The same as the other teachers. "
    She set the wineglass on the coffee table. " You don ' t have to pay me, Jonathan. You didn ' t know I ' d end up stra nded on your island. Six weeks is too long to sit around and do nothing. To be honest, I ' d be happy to help Misty. She ' s a lovely child. "
    A sad look crept into his eyes. " She is. "
    ~ * ~
    Jonathan stared into his wineglass, swirling the fragrant liquid. Misty is a beautiful child, even though she looks like her mother.
    He tried not to think of Sirena. Every time he did, he felt a surge of fresh rage for his ex-wife. She ' d left them when they needed her most. He remembered that day like it was yesterday. She wanted to continue with her acting career and felt that Misty ' s special needs would hold her back. She resented their daughter, but she resented him even more.
    " You have no time for me, " she said.
    He ' d never understand how she could just walk away. When the divorce papers had arrived, he signed them with relief. Now Sirena was somewhere in Europe, from what the newspapers reported, sleeping with anyone who would benefit her.
    Forcing his ex-wife from his mind, he poured another glass of wine and watched Rhian na. What was it about this woman that made him so edgy and grateful at the same time?
    The answer came quick.
    Rhianna was very attractive―and she ' d read to Misty when none of the teachers could be bothered.
    " That was pretty generous of your employer to send you to the Bahamas, " he said, struggling to end the silence. " You must have worked for him for a long time. "
    " Less than a year, actually. "
    " Really? "
    She gave a nod.
    His eyes narrowed. What kind of favor had she offered her employer to get him to splurge on an expensive holiday?
    ~ * ~
    Rhianna noticed Jonathan ' s scowl.
    He looks like he ' s swallowed a fly.
    " My employer is the most wonderful person I ' ve ever met, " she stated. " He thought I needed a break, so he made all the arrangements and gave me this trip as a birthday present. " She snorted. " If he ' d known I ' d be stranded on your island, I ' m sure he ' d be mortified. "
    Jonathan stared at her, his eyes aglow like flames.
    Was she the moth?
    Watching him, a strange tingle coursed through Rhianna ' s veins. The intensity of his gaze seemed very personal, as if he ' d skimmed the surface of her skin with his fingertips instead of his eyes.
    She shivered. Why did her body feel so inflamed?
    Jonathan took a sip of wine and licked his lips. Then he smiled, a satisfied gleam in his sapphire eyes.
    Her breath caught in her throat.
    He knows I ' m attracted to him.
    The heat rose in her cheeks and she prayed that the soft lighting of the room would hide her reaction. She