Boston Avant-Garde 6: Chiaroscuro Read Online Free PDF Page A

Island, near Charlestown.” He took the mug she offered and cupped it. “My grandmother still lives there.”
    “Are you Narragansett, then?” Mattie hoped she didn’t sound as eager as she felt.
    “Mostly.”
    It was a cryptic answer that made her burn with a hundred more questions, but she sensed he wasn’t going to give her any more than that until he was good and ready. It was strange. She’d sent Selena a text before she’d driven to her house to confirm Owen’s identity, so she knew he hadn’t simply stolen her friend’s keys. Still, she knew nothing about the guy. Not really. Yet her instincts told her without a doubt she could trust him. Mattie trusted her instincts. They’d even told her that she and Lars had opposite goals in life. Not that she’d listened.
    Owen took a deep gulp of coffee. “How long did Selena say it would be until she gets here?”
    Mattie liked the fact he hadn’t tried to fish for information about a possible boyfriend or husband. Although knowing Selena’s tendency to talk it was possible she had mentioned Mattie’s brief connection to Lars where Owen could’ve overheard it. How awkward. Now she was left wondering exactly what Owen knew about her.
    Hmm. What if he knows Lars? What if Lars has talked about me in front of this guy?
    Owen was waiting for her to respond with an expression of polite expectation on his face. He took another sip of coffee and seemed to savor the bitter bite on his tongue. For some weird reason that made her like him even more. She was a coffeeaholic. On nights when she went on a painting binge, she consumed a continuous supply. The sudden image of Owen sleep-tousled and wearing flannel pajama pants while they shared a cup of java made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. She longed to indulge her domestic bug with the comforts of home and a family.
    “Selena isn’t coming.” Mattie inhaled deeply of the fragrant liquid caffeine in her mug. The familiar scent was soothing. “She would have, but I didn’t want her to come all the way out here for nothing. I’m fine.”
    He set his mug aside and leaned back against her kitchen counter. For whatever reason, the posture drew her gaze straight to the bulge in his groin. Even in loose-fitting jeans it looked impressive. She lifted her mug to cover the wanton way she was licking her lips. It had been too long. So effing long! Why hadn’t she taken another lover anyway? With Owen in her kitchen, Mattie was having trouble remembering why she’d been celibate for months. Abstaining only made her crabby.
    Owen cleared his throat. “I was going to get a lift back with Selena since I rode out here with you.”
    Mattie felt like someone had doused her in ice-cold water. Here she’d been imagining what it would be like to screw Owen until they were both too sated to move. Hell, she’d been playing house with him in her head, and the guy wasn’t even interested. Embarrassed, she fumbled with her mug and managed to set it in the sink without dropping it. “I don’t mind driving you back. We can leave now if you want.”
     
    OWEN COULDN’T REMEMBER wanting another woman this much. He hadn’t meant to embarrass her, though it was obvious he had. Her elegant cheekbones were tinged with pink, and she refused to meet his gaze. It was pretty damned attractive, although she could’ve given him the finger and his body would’ve considered it a turn-on.
    Feeling strangely off-kilter, he reached over and put his mug next to hers in the sink. Their arms brushed, and Owen felt as though he’d been seared by raw electricity. He choked on a groan as his jeans began to strangle his swollen cock. This unfettered need was crazy. He met plenty of attractive women in his line of work, but he’d never reacted like this.
    “I’m sorry. Are you… Are you okay?” She gnawed on her full, kissable lower lip.
    What was he supposed to say? Hell, she might’ve taken up with someone else since Lars.
    Like hell. I’ll kill