A MATTER OF TRUST Read Online Free PDF Page A

considerable male ego bristle. What would it take to make Madysen tremble with desire instead of fear? Probably not much, he decided.
     
    Judging by that metal bucket she drove and the simple clothing she wore, it wouldn’t take more than a few shopping sprees and maybe a diamond bracelet to impress her. He’d have to take it slow, but that was okay with Chase. He loved a good challenge, and the idea of coaxing this shy little lamb into his bed was certainly going to be a test of patience and perseverance, though he had few doubts as to the ultimate outcome.
     
    “I’ll make a deal with you,” he said. “I promise to try and curb my bad temper if you make an honest effort not to let me intimidate you, okay? It makes me feel like an absolute letch every time you give me that whipped puppy look and it just makes me even more edgy. So, do we have a deal?”
     
    Maddy returned his smile, enormously relieved she wouldn’t have to spend the next month walking around on eggshells. “Yes, I’d like that.”
     
    “Good.” Chase swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. “Would you mind drawing me a hot bath, my muscles are starting to stiffen up again and a nice, long soaking sounds really good right now.”
     
    Maddy took a hesitant step towards him and braved giving him her opinion on the hot bath. “Chase…you might want to take a cool one instead.”
     
    For one uncomfortable moment, he thought she’d figured out why he wouldn’t turn over onto his back when she’d asked him to, but it was apparent she wanted to add to her comment and he couldn’t believe his reserved little Madysen had it in her to discuss his earlier state of arousal. He wondered if the woman had it in her to even say the word sex out loud .
     
    It amused him to think of her dancing around the subject and imagined she probably called anything that wasn’t an arm or a leg a private part. He gave her a crooked grin and watched as the color slowly crept up her neck and into her cheeks. She really was quite beautiful. He was going to find a great deal of pleasure in unleashing the passion inside of Madysen Sawyer.
     
    “Tell me,” Chase said silkily, “why on earth would I want to take a cold bath?”
     
    Maddy lifted her chin. Oh, the man was simply impossible! She knew exactly what he was alluding to, but she’d just made a promise not to be intimidated by him so she forced herself not to turn tail and run. How many women had fallen prey to that deep, sexy tone he used? She imagined the numbers were too high to count without a calculator and firmly resolved not to add her name to the list of Chase Malone’s admirers.
     
    “Heat is the worst thing for sore muscles,” she ventured, proud that her voice didn’t shake. “It dilates the blood vessels and increases the circulation to the sore areas, and…and that makes the swelling worse.” Maddy held his gaze. If he wanted to toss sexual innuendos at her, she was perfectly capable of throwing them back at him. With a ghost of a smile she said, “Surely you’re aware that a nice cold bath reduces painful swelling in muscles that have become…stiff.”
     
    Chase narrowed his eyes. Oh, she was looking at him innocently enough but there was no doubt as to the hidden meaning of her words. Maybe he’d underestimated Madysen after all and she wasn’t nearly as naïve as she appeared to be. Either way, he found her very intriguing and decided that verbal bantering could be just as effective in seducing her as the subtle caresses he intended to use. He’d get her wound so tight she’d be begging him to take her to bed after the first kiss. And there would be kisses, he silently promised her. Bone melting, hard core kissing that was going to curl her toes and leave her so weak she’d be clinging to him like a human vine.
     
    Chase let his eyes sweep over her once more before settling on her delectable lips. “Perhaps you’re right,” he drawled, “a cold bath is