Read Online Save My Soul by Elley Arden - Free Book Online Page B

place?”
    â€œWhat, and miss you insulting me by insinuating I’m sleeping with a client?”
    â€œIt crossed my mind.”
    If he was trying to make her feel better, he failed. She ripped her wrist from his hand and gripped her amulet through the pale yellow fabric of an empire-waist Henley. His eyes followed, flashing back and forth over her breasts. Her stomach dipped. The deep breaths she struggled for didn’t put a dent in her rising anger. “You’re evil.”
    His cheek twitched. “Why? Because I think it’s possible an attractive woman who obviously doesn’t own a bra has the capability to bed a professional athlete?”
    She’d never hit another person, but she no longer trusted her inner belief system to keep her from doing harm. Distance was the only thing that could save her soul. She was tired of his negativity, tired of being affected by it even when he wasn’t here, and tired of the sight of him stirring a primal ache in her core.
    He thought she was attractive. Big deal. He also thought she was a promiscuous, unprofessional flake. She might be in the midst of a delayed quarter-life crises, but she was none of the things Jordon thought she was.
    Maggie fled the wicked room and came face to face with a sad-eyed Carlos. He had an orange bottle of detergent in hand and the face of a child caught in the middle of a nasty divorce.
    She released her grip on the amulet, and something sensible surged. “Let’s teach you how to do laundry.” Her voice was a little too high, like a deranged preschool teacher, but it did the trick, and Carlos followed her to the laundry room.
    He didn’t speak while they sorted the darks from the lights. When everything piled with like colors, Maggie nodded. “We’ll do this load first. Go ahead and fill the machine.”
    She watched as he lined the drum of the washer with a rainbow of clothes. When he’d finished, she handed him the detergent bottle. “Fill the cap to the top line.” His hands shook, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Now dump it.” He hesitated. “Go ahead. Dump it all around or all in one spot. It doesn’t matter. Good. Close the lid, and start the machine.”
    She showed him which buttons to press and which dials to turn, and when the machine started filling with water, he looked besotted.
    â€œYou can show me that one, too?” He pointed to the dryer.
    â€œWhen the washing machine stops. Until then, maybe you should hang out in your room where you’ll be more comfortable.”
    â€œOr you can change into these.” Jordon loomed in the doorway, blocking the exit.
    Carlos accepted the shirt and track pants without a word and slipped past Jordon.
    A light blue T-shirt replaced Jordon’s gray windbreaker, and the muscles in his face twitched. “I’m sorry.” He sounded sincere, even managed to look her in the eye.
    She’d been taught to give forgiveness as easily as she gave acceptance, but this was absurd. If it weren’t for that precious young man who harbored horrific sadness, she would be on the next plane home.
    Until then, Maggie would keep her distance.
    Wanting to get away, she walked toward the room’s only exit, where she attempted to slip between Jordon and the door frame like Carlos had. But Jordon didn’t step aside. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her to his chest.
    Maggie braced for a surge of negative energy, only to have every nerve ending in her body sing until her knees buckled and her breathing stopped.
    As if life wasn’t already crazy enough, now she was attracted to Jordon Kemmons.
    â€¢ • •
    Talking was Jordon’s noble intention before he pulled her to his chest and set off a blast of hot lust so powerful he struggled not to act.
    â€œYou should let go of me,” she whispered. Giant eyes searched his face, and little sprays of her staccato