Read Online Surrender to Temptation by Ednah Walters - Free Book Online Page B

hell is your type?”
    She chuckled. “I’m sorry if I insulted you. Didn’t mean to.”
    “You are laughing at me now.”
    “Guilty. So am I hired?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said, straightening.
    “Drop the ma’am and we have a deal.” She stuck her hand out.
    Chase shook his head. She was something else. In fact, her presence had accomplished something pain meds and riding hadn’t. It had taken away his headache.
    “Why are you shaking your head?” she asked. “Do we need to spit on our hands before shaking on the deal? I heard it was the norm around here.”
    He laughed, the sound surprising him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed in the last six months. “No, we don’t need to do that, but we could seal it with a kiss.”
    This time, she was the one who burst out laughing. “I think I’ll pass, Fitzgerald. Like I said, you are not my type and we don’t need to complicate matters now that we’ve straightened up this mess.”
    “There’s nothing complicated about a kiss, Nikki. Many cultures kiss to seal deals without missing a beat.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips.
    When he lifted his head, she was staring at him as though he’d lost his mind. He probably had. No woman had ever rejected him because he didn’t fit a mold. Her hand curled around his, and Chase found himself studying the long, fragile fingers, perfectly manicured nails with white tips. He searched for a wedding band or the telltale pale skin where a ring had been. There was none.
    “Do you mind letting go of my hand now?” Nikki asked.
    Chase patted her hand, taking his time before letting it go. Not her type? He planned to make her take back her words in three days flat.
    “I’ll see you at dinner, Nikki.”

    ***

    Damn, the man was lethal.
    “Okay.” Nikki sighed with relief when he stepped back. She must stay vigilant against that charm of his. She could still feel the heat from his lips on her hand. It was a wonder she hadn’t melted on the spot. She was supposed to be the one doing the charming and getting him to open up about the past, not the other way around.
    She gave him a tiny smile and walked past him, their bodies almost touching. The heat from his body leaped and engulfed her. He didn’t move back to give her space, his eyes watchful as though cataloging her expression.
    For one brief second, Nikki was tempted to stop and soak it in. For six months, she hadn’t allowed herself to find joy in anything without feeling guilty because of her sister’s situation. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she should start living again.
    Leaving the den, Nikki was aware of Chase’s eyes on her. Her heart pounded, and her skin tingled as though he’d touched her. She’d never reacted to a man’s nearness like she did to him. When he’d leaned over to turn on the computer, his warmth had sent her pulse racing. She was still surprised she’d managed to type anything, let alone focus on showing him her work.
    Nikki made a beeline for the kitchen and poked her head inside. Scents of spices teased her nose, and her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Mrs. B was busy at the stove, and audience laughter came from the TV.
    “Everything ironed out?” Mrs. B asked, glancing at Nikki over her shoulder.
    “Yes.” Nikki stepped into the room. “Something smells good.”
    “Thank you, dear. Dinner will be ready in an hour.” She covered a pot and lowered the heat and the volume on the television before turning to face her. “Didn’t I tell you everything would work out okay?”
    “Yes, you did.”
    “Chase is all talk and no bite. Even as a child, he’d promise to put bugs on Jade’s bed if he ever caught her in his room, but he never went through with it. In fact, he was the one she went to when she needed to talk and Lex wasn’t around. Even Ashley…”
    As Mrs. B went down memory lane, Nikki recalled her video conference with the Fitzgeralds. First was Mo, then the