Read Online Wildfire by Cathie Linz - Free Book Online

only two years difference, not twenty.”
    “Are you insinuating that I’m old?” she demanded.
    “No.” Brady leaned across the table. “I’m insinuating that you’re young.”
    “I’d rather not talk about it.”
    “I’m sure you wouldn’t. That would be very tidy, wouldn’t it? Sweeping all your emotions under the carpet like unwanted dust.”
    Amanda astonished him by laughing. “I do not sweep unwanted dust under the carpet. I use a vacuum cleaner.”
    Brady grinned in response to her unexpected flash of humor. “See, it’s not so hard to do, is it?”
    “What’s not so hard?”
    “Letting go a little.”
    “Don’t try that inhibited-librarian line on me again, Brady,” she warned. “It only worked once.”
    “And with you once is not enough.”
    Coming from any other man, the sexual overtones of the comment would have left her cold, but with Brady there was a spice of wicked excitement that quickened her heart. What was she doing here, sharing provocative retorts in what amounted to little more than an enclosed hot dog stand with a guy who was only in his twenties?
    What
really bothers you?
she asked herself.
Are you having a bad time, or are you worrying about what people might think?
Was Brady right? Was she too wrapped up with her thirty-year-old image to enjoy life? Was it wrong to be aware of your position in life and the responsibilities that it entailed?
    Amanda’s self-inquisition did not go unnoticed. Brady studied her with an intentness that she would have
found discomfiting, had she been aware of it. Brady’s hooded eyes roved over her in silent contemplation before he reached out to gently tap her cheek with his lean finger. “Is anyone home in there?” he questioned.
    Amanda covered her indecision with an off-hand observation. “That’s a long trip.”
    “Not as far as Munich.”
    “True.” Amanda deliberated a moment longer. She’d always wanted to visit Milwaukee’s festival, so why not accept? After all, she wasn’t agreeing to anything long-term, just a day’s outing. “All right. I’d like to go.”
    “Fine. How about Sunday.”
    “This Sunday? But that’s the day after tomorrow.”
    “It sure is. Why? Did you have something else planned?”
    “I was going to vacuum,” Amanda quipped. This lighthearted teasing was, surprisingly, fun. Brady made a tempting verbal sparring partner, and their parity made her wonder how good a partner he’d be in other, more intimate, enterprises. Her body warmed to the thought. This heady enjoyment had never been present with other men she’d dated in the past. Of course she’d never ended the evening licking sauerkraut from her chin either.
    Brady returned her banter. “I wouldn’t want you rearranging your vacuuming schedule just for me.”
    “Not for you,” Amanda corrected. “For the Oktoberfest.”
    “You’re relegating me to a mere chauffeur, is that it?” he growled.
    “If you’re good, I might also let you be the tour guide,” she offered with mocking generosity.
    “Oh, I’m good all right, Mandy,” Brady returned, his smile reflecting his wicked amusement. He was feeling quite satisfied with the way things were turning out. Tonight had been a test of sorts, like the one Amanda had subjected him to by taking him to that classical concert. It was a test she’d passed with flying colors, adjusting to the new situation much better than he’d expected.
    Sitting across from him, her face animated with amusement, her manner relaxed, Amanda fit in well with her surroundings while still retaining that air of class that had first attracted him to her. The slight difference in their ages was a matter of complete indifference to him. Frankly he was more concerned about the differences in their backgrounds.
    Noticing the way her pink tongue was still hungrily licking her lips, Brady offered, “Would you like to sample their Italian ice before we leave?”
    “Yes, please,” she readily agreed.
    The fresh citrus