Read Online Star of His Heart by Brenda Jackson - Free Book Online

home, I started painting and lost track of the time.” She got up from the table as well. “If you hadn’t called, I probably would have ordered out for a pizza or something eventually.”
    He watched her stride across the floor to the sink to rinse out her beer bottle before tossing it into a recycle bin. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a top and looked pretty in them. He glanced down and thought she even had cute bare feet with polished toes.
    â€œMy uncle knows you or at least he’s heard of you,” she said, causing him to shift his gaze to her face. “He was very complimentary.”
    â€œWas he?”
    â€œYes. He believes you’re a person who’s going places.”
    A broad smile touched his lips. “That means a lot coming from the likes of Jacob Wellesley,” he said before finishing off his beer.
    He joined her at the sink and she slid over to give him room when he proceeded to rinse out his own beer bottle. She smelled good, he thought, pulling in a whiff of her scent through his nostrils. She smelled better than good. She smelled like a woman he wanted.
    He smiled over at her and she glared at him. “What’s wrong?” he asked, moving to place the beer bottle in the recycle bin. “I assured you that no one followed me over here.”
    â€œThat’s not what’s bothering me, Ethan.”
    He leaned back against the sink. “Then what is bothering you, Rachel?” He had an idea but wanted her to tell him.
    She had moved back to the table and stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “I think we need to reiterate a few things, like the fact that two weeks ago we decided to be friends and nothing more.”
    â€œI thought we were.”
    â€œI thought so, too,” she replied. “But…”
    He lifted a brow and tried looking baffled. “But what?”
    â€œI’m getting these vibes.”
    â€œReally? What kind of vibes?”
    When she didn’t say anything, he crossed the room to her. “Rachel, just what kind of vibes are you getting?”
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    He was staring at her and those gorgeous eyes of his were probably seeing a lot more than she wanted them to. A lot more than she needed them to see. And that put her on the defensive.
    â€œNone. Forget I said that,” she said.
    â€œNot sure I can do that now,” he said, eyeing her up and down the way he’d done the first day they’d met. Before they’d decided all they wanted between them was friendship. Her mind scrambled as she tried to recall that day. It had been his second day on the set. Had it really been two weeks ago already? They had walked to the Disney Store and Art World. He had purchased a Princess Tiana doll for his niece, and she had picked up some art supplies.
    They’d both agreed they were not involved in serious relationships and wanted to keep things that way. Besides, she had painstakingly explained to him that she didn’t mix business with pleasure. He had understood and said the same rule applied to him. That should have settled things…so why didn’t it?
    Why was he looking at her now in a way that made her so aware of her sensuality while at the same time reminded her that it had been a long time since she’d been with a man? Nearly two years, to be exact, and even then it hadn’t been anything to brag about.
    â€œYou have no choice, Ethan,” she heard herself say.
    â€œI don’t?”
    At the shake of her head, he said, “And what if I told you I’m getting those same vibes, and that if we don’t at least share a kiss, there will always be curiosity between us?”
    Heat circled around in her stomach at his admission and his suggestion. “Maybe for you, but not for me,” she said, lifting her chin.
    He took a step closer. “And you want me to believe that you aren’t curious?”
    Of course she was curious. What woman wouldn’t be