A Coral Kiss Read Online Free PDF

shower, aware that he was secretly pleased Amy had liked the Baroque bird cage enough to buy it. What didn't please him was that at one point he had offered to give her the cage and she politely refused. He had recognized the refusal for what it was, a deliberate effort to keep their relationship free of various bonds, obligations and entanglements. As a gift it was too much in her eyes. When it came to presents she preferred a bunch of brightly colored flowers now and then. At the time she had refused the cage he told himself he appreciated the gesture because it had reassured him he made the right decision when he had decided to get involved with Amelia Slater. She wanted exactly what he wanted out of an affair: casual companionship and good sex. But he never quite forgot the odd sensation of rejection he had experienced the day she declined his gift.
    Nor had he ever gotten the good sex. The affair had never quite gelled. It seemed to have stalled at the friendship stage.
    The first time he saw her she had been intently studying the cage in Caliph's Bay Gallery. Jed had stopped in to chat with Connie Erickson, the owner, and to deliver another cage. Connie treated him as she treated all the rather eccentric craftspeople and artists she represented, with a kind of affectionate tolerance. Jed encouraged her to do so. The image of himself as an eccentric craftsman worked well for him in Caliph's Bay, a town overrun by the type. It allowed him to fit in nicely. But then, finding protective covers was another of his odd assortment of talents.
    He'd spotted Amy crouched in front of the Baroque piece, examining each minute architectural detail with obvious delight. It was clear she was enchanted and her pleasure had intrigued him. Since he designed and built the cage, Jed figured he had the perfect opening line.
    She had responded to his overture. He was pleased to find out she lived in town and was not just a passing tourist. A day spent together in Carmel visiting art galleries had quickly followed. After that there had been a couple of dinners together and one or two afternoon walks on the beach. She had shown an interest in his bird cages and he had found the fact that she wrote science fiction and fantasy fascinating.
    She didn't look the type, he had told her.
    "What does the type look like?" she'd countered.
    "I don't know," he'd admitted.
    "Well, if it's any consolation, you don't look the type to build beautiful bird cages."
    "I'm an engineer," he'd explained. "For a while, when I was younger, I also wanted to be an architect.
    The cages are a hobby. I don't make my living with them."
    "How do you make your living?"
    "Engineering consulting work. My firm has several overseas projects. I travel a lot." The lies always came easily. He had been telling them for years.
    "Do you like it?"
    He had shrugged, a little surprised by the question. "I don't know. It's what I do."
    Amy had nodded, as if understanding perfectly. She also seemed to understand that he had said all he intended to say about his job. Her tolerant acceptance of the limits he established intrigued him, although he had other lies ready if she ever asked more questions. She never had, and Jed was pleased. He shied away from the thought of telling Amy any more lies than absolutely necessary.
    Lazily, feeling no need to rush the affair and determined not to jeopardize the light, undemanding aspects of the relationship, Jed had set out to seduce Amy. But he had quickly discovered that moving beyond casual friendship wasn't going to be that easy. He soon learned there was something jumpy, almost frightened about Amy. She used the pose of friend almost like a shield to protect herself.
    He was working on the problem when he had gotten the first assignment he had received since meeting her. As usual, there was very little time to say good-bye. Jed hadn't been certain what to expect from her when he told her he was leaving the country so suddenly, but he had been