Read Online Must Be Magic (Spellbound) by Sydney Somers - Free Book Online
Authors: Sydney Somers
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being even a little bit egotistical about the whole thing.
What she wouldn’t give for a glimpse of the Bryce Lancaster who could set her teeth on edge with nothing more than a cold smile.
That Bryce she knew how to handle, how to protect herself against. But this one, the curve of his lips the complete opposite of chilly, slipped beneath her defenses. How was she supposed to fight back against slow, sexy grins and an irresistible charm that she felt all the way down to her toes?
“And you’re in denial.”
She scoffed and gave up on pretending nothing happened. “At least I was drunk. What’s your excuse? Because I know I didn’t imagine the way you were looking at me last night.”
“And what way was that?” he challenged, his voice low and laced with sinful intent.
Smart enough to take a step back, Darby shook her head. “If you’re looking for an apology—”
In one stride he filled the space she had tried to put between them. “The only thing I want you to be sorry for is going to bed alone.”
If shock hadn’t locked Darby’s feet to the ground she would have ended up in the ditch that ran parallel to the trail. She could have imagined a lot of things coming out of Bryce’s mouth, but nothing prepared her for that.
Worse, though, nothing prepared her for the wave of heat that streaked through her despite every sensible reason that she shouldn’t feel a damn thing.
Looking annoyed—with himself or her?—Bryce brushed past her and continued up the path.
She stared after him, glancing away when something bounced off her knee.
What the…
Above her, the monkey screeched again, waving madly. Whatever direction she was headed in, he clearly wanted her to hurry the hell up. She trailed after Bryce before she’d consciously decided it would be better to set the record straight with him than leave his comment hanging between them.
Easier said than done when he set a brutal pace. Exercise—unless she counted how often she planted herself between Finn and Dante when they bickered over cases like two senile old women—was one of those things she kept promising herself she’d make time for, but hadn’t quite managed to work into her schedule.
Between her hangover and struggling to keep up with Bryce—the latter of which she’d never admit to—she was too distracted to think about anything else. She didn’t notice that he’d stopped until the trail opened up, offering a breathtaking view of the resort below and the beach and ocean beyond. Pale-blue sky met sun-kissed waves that glittered far into the horizon.
“Wow.” She stepped up to the rail at the edge of the drop-off, forgetting everything but the small slice of paradise spread out before her. The view alone was worth the trip up.
Bryce rested his forearms on the rail. “This isn’t so bad, is it?”
“Are you talking about the view or the company?”
That slow, devastating grin was back. “Both.”
He glanced over, seeming to realize how close they stood. She never noticed him moving, only felt him edge into her space a little more. His eyes were far too distracting, his blue-gray gaze sliding under her skin.
“How’s my head?”
She pretended to scrutinize the injury. “Looks…infected. He was chewing on whatever he threw at you. Maybe he has rabies.”
“Well, that would give you an excuse to stay away from me for what’s left of our truce.”
“Strangely enough, I’ve been vaccinated recently.” At his raised eyebrow, she added. “Don’t ask.”
He laughed. “Don’t say I didn’t give you the opportunity to keep your distance.”
“You say that like I’ll regret not steering clear of you.”
“Too late now.” He straightened without warning, his gaze locked on her mouth.
“There’s a world of difference between not avoiding you and kissing you.”
“Then maybe we should renegotiate the terms of our truce.”
Chapter Four
Bryce was lost.
There wasn’t any other explanation for quitting his
What she wouldn’t give for a glimpse of the Bryce Lancaster who could set her teeth on edge with nothing more than a cold smile.
That Bryce she knew how to handle, how to protect herself against. But this one, the curve of his lips the complete opposite of chilly, slipped beneath her defenses. How was she supposed to fight back against slow, sexy grins and an irresistible charm that she felt all the way down to her toes?
“And you’re in denial.”
She scoffed and gave up on pretending nothing happened. “At least I was drunk. What’s your excuse? Because I know I didn’t imagine the way you were looking at me last night.”
“And what way was that?” he challenged, his voice low and laced with sinful intent.
Smart enough to take a step back, Darby shook her head. “If you’re looking for an apology—”
In one stride he filled the space she had tried to put between them. “The only thing I want you to be sorry for is going to bed alone.”
If shock hadn’t locked Darby’s feet to the ground she would have ended up in the ditch that ran parallel to the trail. She could have imagined a lot of things coming out of Bryce’s mouth, but nothing prepared her for that.
Worse, though, nothing prepared her for the wave of heat that streaked through her despite every sensible reason that she shouldn’t feel a damn thing.
Looking annoyed—with himself or her?—Bryce brushed past her and continued up the path.
She stared after him, glancing away when something bounced off her knee.
What the…
Above her, the monkey screeched again, waving madly. Whatever direction she was headed in, he clearly wanted her to hurry the hell up. She trailed after Bryce before she’d consciously decided it would be better to set the record straight with him than leave his comment hanging between them.
Easier said than done when he set a brutal pace. Exercise—unless she counted how often she planted herself between Finn and Dante when they bickered over cases like two senile old women—was one of those things she kept promising herself she’d make time for, but hadn’t quite managed to work into her schedule.
Between her hangover and struggling to keep up with Bryce—the latter of which she’d never admit to—she was too distracted to think about anything else. She didn’t notice that he’d stopped until the trail opened up, offering a breathtaking view of the resort below and the beach and ocean beyond. Pale-blue sky met sun-kissed waves that glittered far into the horizon.
“Wow.” She stepped up to the rail at the edge of the drop-off, forgetting everything but the small slice of paradise spread out before her. The view alone was worth the trip up.
Bryce rested his forearms on the rail. “This isn’t so bad, is it?”
“Are you talking about the view or the company?”
That slow, devastating grin was back. “Both.”
He glanced over, seeming to realize how close they stood. She never noticed him moving, only felt him edge into her space a little more. His eyes were far too distracting, his blue-gray gaze sliding under her skin.
“How’s my head?”
She pretended to scrutinize the injury. “Looks…infected. He was chewing on whatever he threw at you. Maybe he has rabies.”
“Well, that would give you an excuse to stay away from me for what’s left of our truce.”
“Strangely enough, I’ve been vaccinated recently.” At his raised eyebrow, she added. “Don’t ask.”
He laughed. “Don’t say I didn’t give you the opportunity to keep your distance.”
“You say that like I’ll regret not steering clear of you.”
“Too late now.” He straightened without warning, his gaze locked on her mouth.
“There’s a world of difference between not avoiding you and kissing you.”
“Then maybe we should renegotiate the terms of our truce.”
Chapter Four
Bryce was lost.
There wasn’t any other explanation for quitting his
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