Read Online Make it Hot by Gwyneth Bolton - Free Book Online Page B

of the bags. It was hard to remember why he had been so down just a few minutes ago. How could anyone be down when gazing at such a beautiful woman?
    She gasped and turned around when he took the bags from her hands.
    “See…you almost got slapped,” she said with a squint of her eyes and a soft smile.
    “Now that would have been a shame. You ladies want to complain chivalry is dead and yet you want to slap the first brother that goes out of his way to try and help you.”
    Her smile broadened. “ Whatever. You sneaking up on a sistah is just wrong. What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?”
    “Nope. I just saw a beautiful woman who looked like she needed some help, so just hush your fuss and let me help you carry all this ice, at least something will brighten up this day.” He regretted the words as soon as they came out his mouth.
    After she spent so much time yesterday trying to make him feel better, the last thing he wanted to do was come off like the nickname she teased him with all the time, Mr. Surly.
    Her beautiful brown eyes softened in concern, and he found himself wishing he could go back in time.
    “What’s wrong, Joel?” There was a tender lilt in her voice, the kind that could probably coax a man out of his money, time and mind.
    It was so different from the tone he was used to hearing from Little Miss Spitfire. Teasing, smart aleck and opinionated were her usual fare. With this new gentle tone and expression, she seemed to really care about what was going on with him. She made his heart soften and his mouth loose.
    “Nothing big. I just decided to visit the family company today to get a feel for what my life might be like, and it was kind of…” He sighed.
    No, he couldn’t do this. He didn’t want her pity.
    She tilted her head a little as if studying him and then she nodded.
    “So I take it you didn’t automatically take to your possible new grazing grounds?”
    Why did he ever think the spitfire would pity him? The demanding physical therapist was a taskmaster when it came to making him learn the stretching techniques and exercises for his back, and she never let him sulk or pity himself for long when in her presence. He shook his head.
    “Girl, you ain’t nothing nice, huh? You see a brother feeling all down and you just come in with the zingers like that dang electric stimulation you love so much. A shock a minute, huh?”
    She smiled and laughed. “Come on, before my ice melts, Hightower. You don’t want my pity anyway, and you’re starting to love the electric stimulation now, so don’t complain.”
    He followed her to the checkout counters and stood in line with her.
    “You can just put those on the counter. I didn’t mean to drag you away from your shopping. I can manage from here.”
    “Now what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t help you carry these to your car? My parents raised me better than that. Besides, I was just coming in for a couple of frozen dinners and maybe a box of Ben & Jerry’s to wash away my blues.”
    Knowing she wasn’t going to pity him was kind of freeing in a way. He could voice how pathetic he was feeling and know she was going to say something to make him snap out of it.
    What would he do in a couple of weeks when his therapy sessions with her were over and he didn’t have her to keep him in check?
    “Aww, poor Mr. Surly, are you going to drown your sorrows in some Chunky Monkey or some Cherry Garcia? ’Cause if it’s Chunky Monkey, then you and I might be able to see eye to eye on something for a change.”
    She had a cute little smile on her face he suddenly felt the urge to kiss off.
    “Anyone with taste buds in his or her mouth knows the only flavors worth eating are Karamel Sutra and Oatmeal Cookie Crunch.”
    She shook her head in mock disgust. “I just don’t know about you, Hightower. I just don’t know.”
    She paid for her ice, and he helped her carry it to the car.
    She stood in front of her car and gazed at him