Read Online Traci On The Spot by Marie Ferrarella - Free Book Online Page A

baiting her, wasn’t trying to arouse her ire. He was serious.
    As if he cared.
    The way she had cared when she had thought of Morgan throwing away his life on someone like Cynthia. It gave her pause and momentarily took away her tongue.
    When she found it, she spoke quietly. “He’s a good man, Morgan.”
    Morgan wasn’t quite sure exactly how he had gotten in so close to her, he only knew that, somehow, they were standing almost toe-to-toe and the distance was rapidly shrinking, even though neither one of them was moving a muscle.
    “So’s the pope. You’re not marrying him.”
    A half smile curved her full mouth. “No, he didn’t ask.”
    Her answer told him more than she realized. “So, you are marrying Daniel?”
    She thought that one over carefully. Slowly, she nodded. “I think so.”
    Morgan resisted believing her. Because he didn’t think that in her heart she believed herself.“That doesn’t sound like the Traci I know. The one who runs headlong into things without thinking.”
    No, it didn’t. She forced a smile to her lips. “Maybe I’ve grown up.”
    He remained unconvinced. “I don’t think so. Not you. Not like this.”
    She lifted her chin, suddenly feeling very uneasy, as if the ground beneath her feet were liquefying. But that was impossible. That happened only during an earthquake, and they didn’t get earthquakes out here.
    Only storms.
    Like the one swirling around her now.
    “What would you know about it?” she challenged, digging for some of her customary bravado. “You haven’t seen me in, what, eight years?”
    “Nine,” he corrected softly.
    Very lightly, he feathered his fingers along her face. He couldn’t seem to help himself. Nor could he help this feeling that was taking hold of him against his will.
    It was against his will, wasn’t it?
    “And I know.” He smiled into her eyes, quieting her protest, as if anything earthly actually could. “I read your strip.”
    “I already told you, Morgan. All that’s exaggerated.” The words were supposed to be shouted. But they merely dripped from her lips like a faucet that wasn’t quite turned off.
    “Yes, I know.” His face, his lips, drew closer. “But so are you.”
    Something was twisting inside her stomach. “Morgan?” she whispered.
    “Hmm?” She seemed to be all around him, invading his senses like a virus.
    She ran the tip of her tongue over her parched lips. “You’re standing too close.”
    He cupped her cheek. “No, I’m not. I can’t kiss you from across the room.”
    “Oh.” Slowly, she nodded her head, as if in a trance. And maybe, just maybe, she was in one. Otherwise, she’d be running for her life. Because what she was feeling was scaring her. “Good reason.” Her throat had never felt so dry in her whole life. As dry as the world outside the window was wet.
    And then his lips touched hers and the world outside might as well have existed on another planet.
    Because she certainly did.

5
    S he heard them.
    She actually heard them. Bells. Banjos. And maybe even a sousaphone thrown in for good measure. They were all there, an entire symphony full of them. Along with music she couldn’t placeand a rush of fire that threatened to consume everything in its path.
    Her, first of all.
    She’d seen the kiss coming. But what she hadn’t foreseen was what could come after. Nothing could have prepared her for that.
    Caught completely off guard, Traci had no defenses against the feeling that swept over her with the speed of a flame eating its way up a narrow line of gunpowder. And because her head was spinning around like a carousel at warp speed, she had no desire to offer any, either.
    Breathless, intoxicated, Traci allowed herself to be taken away by the feeling. To savor it, to revel in it. Most of all, to be awed by it.
    It was almost like when Rory kissed her. Almost but not quite.
    This was different.
    Better.
    Her fingers tightened on Morgan’s shoulders as she rose on her toes to surrender