Bindings and Books Read Online Free PDF

flirted her way through the order. Flipping her hair for the tenth time, she fluttered her eyelashes at Ash and lingered beside him.
    Ridiculous girl! How could that kind of behavior appeal to anyone? He drummed his fingers on the table. Her manager needed to instruct her on appropriate behavior. God, he needed a drink. “And you can get me a glass of red wine!”
    Her body jerked. “Of course, right away, sir.” She scurried off.
    The warm weight of Ash’s hand covered James’s drumming fingers.
    A palm pressed. A thumb stroked.
    The tension eased from his muscles, leaving his body boneless and in danger of melting into Ash’s touch.
    But that was something he couldn’t allow.
    Clearing his throat, he slipped his hand away and placed it in his lap. “So…. Have you just come from the office?”
    “Yeah. I had to find out when I leave for Canada.”
    “You’re leaving?” His hands clenched into fists preparing to fight. No!
    “I leave on Saturday. I’ll be gone for two weeks.”
    Tense muscles relaxed. Right. Two weeks. For a moment, he had thought….
    Over the past few weeks, there had been countless accidental encounters with Ash, and he had begun to… anticipate the next meeting.
    Damn! One, two, three, four flower buds on the potted plant. Five, six, seven….
     
     
    T HE COOL evening air raised goose bumps on James’s bare arms as he exited the gym. The early evening walk home was usually something he enjoyed. It gave him a chance to soak in the atmosphere of the city, but tonight it was a chore. He paused to flex his aching, overworked right knee. The past two weeks he had been a little down, blue, sad, or whatever one wanted to call it. He did not know why.
    Liar! You know why.
    He had no reason to hurry home. Only a cold, lonely apartment and a frozen dinner for one awaited him.
    Wait! The breath caught in his throat. Was that Ash? As each step brought them closer, James’s smile grew wider. “Ash! Hi! When did you get back from Canada?”
    “Yesterday. I see you’ve been to the gym.”
    Ash’s hand sweeping down James’s bare arm left an invisible trail of scorched skin. Shifting his gym bag to the other hand, he jerkily ran his fingers through his damp hair. “So good. I mean, yes, I’ve just finished a session.”
    “Your apartment’s close by isn’t it? I’ll walk with you. Oh wait!” Ash grasped his arm. “I’ll fix this for you.”
    Fingers ran through his hair. Fingernails lightly scratched his scalp.
    His breath hitched. Oh God!
    “There!” Ash stood back to look at him. “Perfect!”
    A warm tingling sensation lingered on his scalp—and other places. Perfect? What was Ash trying to do to him? Gorgeous, sexy Ash could have anyone he wanted. Damn it! Why does he have to look so young?
    While walking side by side, Ash repeatedly brushed against James’s bare skin. At each obstacle they encountered, Ash’s hand caressed his back. Ash liked to touch. There were plenty of obstacles.
    He cleared his throat. “So, how was your trip?”
    “Good, but I’m glad to be back. It was a very long two weeks, and I couldn’t wait to get home.”
    “Really?” Like a slapstick comedy, his foot snagged on the pavement, and he lurched forward.
    A firm hand grabbed his elbow. One embarrassing face plant averted— thank God! Swallowing the lump in his throat, he looked away from Ash’s smiling face. Damn! They were already outside his apartment. Don’t do it! Don’t ask him inside! “This is me. I guess I’ll see you around.” Yes! What willpower!
    Ash moved to stand directly in front of him. Their eyes locked.
    Yes. No! Oh hell.
    A warm palm settled over his heart. His eyelids drifted closed. Could Ash feel his heart racing? As the hand slid sideways, each finger bumped then grazed his nipple, his thin T-shirt dragging against the sensitive bud like fine sandpaper. Where the hell had all the damned oxygen gone?
    The hand trailed sparks of fire down one side of his chest, tracing