Read Online Trading Secrets by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page B

how brilliant a man’s perception becomes at the bottom of a glass of booze! You realize, of course, that what you were really doing was punishing me for what your ex-wife did?”
    “That’s not true!” He shook his head. “Well, hell, maybe it was in some way. But I was thinking of you, not her. I honestly thought you were married, or at the least seriously involved. I wanted to show you that you’re not cut out for that kind of life. Frankly, she was.”
    “Who the hell do you think you are?” she breathed.
    He stretched out a hand, closing it firmly over hers. The hazel eyes were dark and insistent. “Honey, I’m sorry. That’s all I can say. I never meant it to get out of hand.”
    She lifted her brows in mocking inquiry. “Oh? You didn’t mean to actually carry the little lesson through to the end? You would have stopped before the actual act of rape?”
    She could have sworn a hint of red stained his cheeks. Matt withdrew his hand from hers. “I thought we agreed on a truce this evening. You’re definitely on the attack.”
    “ Ummm . So I am. Can’t imagine what provoked me. Well, think of it as an armed truce. What finally happened to Ginny?”
    “I’ll skip over the gory details of my failed marriage. To summarize briefly, Ginny decided eventually that she had to find herself and she couldn’t do it as my wife. She left me officially shortly before I screwed things up on that job in Central America. Ginny always did have a great sense of timing. She’s remarried now. A successful executive type. And she’s got Brad.”
    “Brad?”
    “My son. He’s thirteen,” Matt said shortly.
    Sensing depressing vibrations around that topic, Sabrina found herself going on to another. “And the bookstore? How did you get into that?”
    “I started that when I realized I needed money to keep on eating as well as a job to keep me from spending too much time in these expensive tourist bars. Another drink?”
    “Please.” Sabrina waited while he gave the order. “Do you ever think of going back to the States?”
    “Maybe. Someday. But I like Mexico, and to tell you the truth, you were right about my former career not teaching me a lot of useful skills. Me being out of the country makes things easier on my family, too. Easier for them to pretend the blot on the family escutcheon doesn’t exist.”
    “Families have a way of making one aware of one’s failings, even when they’re trying to be supportive.” Sabrina lifted her fresh Margarita in salute. “Here’s to escutcheon blots and those of us who make them. Think how bored all of our relatives would be without us!”
    Matt grinned suddenly, the first full-fledged wickedly male smile she had yet witnessed from him, and Sabrina found herself downing an oversize swallow of the Margarita. There was something very intriguing about that grin. It was unexpectedly charming, full of unabashedly virile promise and a hint of sheer male challenge. It made her realize just why she had taken the risk of approaching him in the bar last night. He drank to her irreverent toast and then he took her in to dinner.
    The armed truce survived the elegantly prepared seafood dinner. It survived the Mexican-made, coffee-based liqueur Matt insisted Sabrina try. It even survived the drive back to Sabrina’s hotel. Things didn’t get shaky, in fact, until Matt led Sabrina to her door and she have him her hand in a pointedly formal gesture of farewell.
    “Thank you, Matt. All things considered, it was a very pleasant evening.”
    “Sabrina?” He stood unmoving, staring down at her outstretched hand.
    “Were there any further explanations you wanted to make?” she asked politely.
    “No, but I thought we could talk a little more.” He looked down into her eyes, his own gaze clearly reflecting the controlled desire he was feeling.
    “Good night, Matt.”
    “Sabrina … ?” His rough fingertips moved delicately across her wrist.
    “No,” she said gently.