Body Chemistry Read Online Free PDF Page A

her? Damn, damn, damn.
    The brief grave site service came to a close. One moment the coffin was there, then it was in the ground. All Brenda remembered was the sound of dirt hitting the coffin. Madeline was gone.
    Brenda walked slowly back to her car. She paused when she saw a tall, striking dark figure ahead. It was Dominic. She jumped into her car in case he turned around and saw her. She needn’t have worried; he was busy consoling Madeline’s mother who had cried uncontrollably throughout.
    What was he doing here? Shouldn’t he be traveling or on some radio show? How could he have remembered Madeline?
    Brenda started her car and drove to Madeline’s parents’ house to express her condolence. Once there she was surprised to find a larger group gathered. She overheard several individuals say that they couldn’t bear seeing Madeline in a coffin or watching her being lowered into the ground and had decided not to go to the viewing or grave site. Brenda spoke to several of Madeline’s business friends, then approached her sister, Dana. “I’m so sorry.”
    “I can hardly believe that it’s real. I didn’t sense anything,” Dana said, her face reflecting the shock and pain she felt.
    Brenda nodded, feeling her wave of guilt resurfacing. She shouldn’t have waited for the next day. She should have gone over to see her. Perhaps she could have—
    “She wanted you to have this.” Dana handed Brenda a small white envelope. She put it in her handbag, stuffing it in-between her carton of cigarettes and wallet. Suddenly, she heard his voice and footsteps. Dominic rarely entered a room quietly and once inside one couldn’t help but stare at him. He was as magnificent as a mountain and just as majestic, but his movements were not refined and people easily made the assumption that he came from the backwoods of Canada instead of one its prestigious cities. Brenda knew it was all an act that he used to mislead people to give himself the advantage. When he wanted to, he could move with the noiseless steps of a fox hunting its prey or act as cultured as a prince.
    His biography said he’d immigrated to America at fifteen. The truth was that he’d run away to live with an aunt.
    Brenda knew she had to disappear before he saw her. She couldn’t handle talking to him now. When they had been together they were either fighting or making love. He was the one person who could make her lose her cool. She couldn’t afford to, not here. Brenda darted into the next room where the buffet table stood. She lifted a plate, knowing she couldn’t eat anything, but needing something to do.
    She set the plate down when she heard familiar footsteps come closer. She silently swore. Of course he’d head to the buffet table. The man could eat it clean, although his muscular physique gave no indication of that. There wasn’t an inch of fat on him; he was as solid as marble. She disappeared behind a large palm and watched Dominic and Franklin enter. Neither man appeared to notice the other. Franklin’s presence didn’t surprise her. He would want to be there to console Madeline’s family in case there were photographers. She lost sight of Dominic but saw Franklin talking to Madeline’s mother and father. At that moment, she wished Madeline was there so the two of them could laugh at him. He was always a comical character to watch, because he thought he was more important than he was, and it showed.
    “Are you hiding from me?” a deep voice said behind her.

Chapter 3
     
    B renda froze, hoping that when she turned it wouldn’t be who she thought. She slowly spun around and looked up. Dominic was one of the few men she had to look up to. He topped six-four and was the one man who didn’t make her feel anything less than a woman. When she was with him all of her feminine instincts became alert.
    From their first meeting she’d responded to his sheer male energy. It wasn’t just that he was large, but that he was stronger than her, and