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.In the dark, all the vehicles lining the streetlooked the same, their only variations related to size.She wouldn't drive an SUV.Thatwas too masculine for the slender woman.It would work for a mom, though.Shit, what ifshe was a mom?Unsure which direction to check for her car, he went out into the middle of the one-way street and waited."An erection's not worth suicide," she called from behind him, amusement in hervoice.Heath spun to find her in a tidy four-door parked three cars down up the street.She'd half pulled out, and was leaning out the driver's window to address him.Her hairswung dark against the car's pale paint job.Feeling stupid, relieved she'd stopped instead of leaving, he jogged over to her andopened his fist."You left this."Her eyes widened, this time in horror instead of shock."Oh, hell.You have no ideahow much trouble I'd be in if I lost that.""I guess that makes me your hero, doesn't it?" He placed the ring on her outstretchedhand.His fingertips brushed her palm.Electricity jolted up his arm.* * * *"You're still a hero," she said, turning the ring over and holding it closer to thecandle centerpiece."I just expected something with a little more& sparkle."Alex relaxed against the padded leather behind him and drew a cigar case frominside the jacket of his dress uniform."Sparkle is for girls who don't stay beautiful,Charlie.Those rocks only shine when the light's directly on them, and once the light goesaway they're just dull pieces of mineral."She pursed her lips, slanting a sideways look his way.Her eyes said she didn't buy aword of it."That's a pretty line, but it doesn't change the fact this isn't a diamond.Are youtricking me, Alex? You have another box in your pocket? I thought when you came back,settled down right, you'd want to, well, settle down right."He clipped the end of his cigar and looked past Charlie under the guise ofconcentrating on the lounge singer's lyrics.In truth, he didn't hear a single word of thesong.He did have another box for his lady, the engagement ring she'd expected, but heneeded her to accept this one first.It meant more.He'd found it in a little shop in Austriabefore the war ended.The smooth and sedate curve had been a physical reminder ofCharlie waiting back home.She was different now but only on the outside.If he wipedoff the lipstick and heavy eye makeup she wore, if he looked past the beads drapedaround her slender neck, he'd find the tried and true girl who'd sent him off to war.Onlynow she was a woman."Don't misunderstand, Alex.Your souvenir's the cat's pajamas, but ""But not what you counted on." He looked down the shaft of his cigar, studying herface."You're not what I counted on either, Charlie.You changed.""Not for the worst," she murmured, sliding closer.Her thigh pressed his.A shot oflust beamed to Alex's groin.He eyed the candle casting their table in a soft golden glowand swallowed hard when Charlie leaned forward, pursed her red lips and extinguishedthe flame with a breath.Her slender hand ventured over his knee.She drew a single fingertip up his inseam.Alex carefully placed his cigar in the glass ashtray and tilted his head to study the rougedcurve of Charlie's cheek.Her eyelashes, thick and dark with cosmetics, fanned the line ofher cheekbone, hiding her wicked intention.Her hand gave everything away, though heheld himself rigid as she tested the stiffness of his cock."I have to be honest with you, Alex& " She pressed her unfettered breast to hisbiceps, her sin-crimson mouth to his ear."If you want me to be the old girl, I don't wantyour rocks.Sparkling or not."He closed his eyes, suppressing a groan.She might not want the ring, but her fingerstold a different story about her desire for his rocks.She weighed his bollocks in her palm,squeezing and kneading and driving him mad.He hadn't been celibate during his tour in Europe, but he had made a point of keepinghis activities brief, need-based, and respectful toward his hired partners.No titillatinggames, no flirtations, not even shared smiles across the round top of a coffee house table.He'd thought of Charlie every time, of how he'd respect her in the marriage bed he hopedfor, and hadn't allowed himself to develop unsavory appetites [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]