Bougainvillea Read Online Free PDF Page A

her. His tone was husky and he smelled subtly of a spicy aftershave.
    â€œWant to autograph a book for me? It will keep the folks in the line behind me from getting dangerously hostile while I talk to you.”
    â€œAnd come on to you?” Jen suggested in an audible whisper.
    David didn’t bat an eye. His small, rueful smile deepened. “And try damned hard to come on to you.”
    â€œA book—sure. Sure, of course.” She was almost stuttering. Flustered despite herself, she opened a book and started writing in it.
    â€œAre you free for dinner?” he asked.
    â€œOh, I don’t know—” she began.
    Jen kicked her. Hard. She looked at Jen who was staring at her as if she’d completely lost her mind.
    She had to smile. She looked back to David. “I think that my colleague is assuring me I’ve no obligations to my publishers this evening.”
    â€œThanks,” he said to Jen, grinning.
    â€œMy pleasure,” Jen responded, still staring at him. “It’s the least I can do for a man honest enough to admit he’s coming on to a woman.”
    â€œMiss Harrison, would you please do my book?” a fan asked, drawing Jen’s attention back to the task at hand.
    â€œOh, I’m so sorry!” Jen said, and began writing again.
    â€œWhich hotel are you in?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “My plane was delayed. I don’t have a hotel as yet. I think I’m supposed to be at the Copley.”
    â€œI’ll pick you up here then. Meet me at the coffee cart after the show. I’ve got a car. What about your bags?”
    â€œAll I have is one overnighter, but a car will be great, thanks. We’ll meet at the coffee cart.”
    His dark eyes were on her. Sensual, amused.
    â€œI’m sorry. Is there anything else?”
    â€œMy book?” he said.
    â€œOh!” She handed it to him, glad that her inscription seemed friendly, but not…fawning. To David, with gratitude to a new friend in the right place at the right time! Kit Delaney.
    He read it in silence, smiled, closed the book.
    â€œThanks.” He stepped quickly out of line.
    â€œYou know him!” Jennifer accused her softly, her head lowered as she signed a book.
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, not really?” Jen demanded.
    â€œI’ve met him once. Before. Well, supposedly I knew him a long time ago.”
    Jen handed the book to a little girl who wanted to grow up to be an artist. Despite her conversation with Kit, she managed to tell the little girl to stick to her guns.
    â€œKit, this calls for an explanation,” Jen said.
    â€œWe’re only here another fifteen minutes…I’ve kind of told you about it before. We’ll run out for a few minutes when we’re done,” Kit told her.
    Jen didn’t mean to let it slide. When their signing session was finished and the next group of artists came to take their seats, Jen immediately caught Kit’s arm. “There’s an actual sit-down restaurant with boothsbelow. We’re going there and you’re going to give me all the dirt! I’m so, so pleased that it looks as if you’re going to have some excitement in your life.”
    â€œI told you, I don’t really know him.”
    â€œAh, but I think you’re going to,” Jen said sagely.
    Luckily, it was deep into the afternoon, and they only had to wait a few minutes for a table. Jen was anxious, demanding that they order first.
    â€œWe only ate three hours ago, and I’m supposed to be going to dinner,” Kit protested.
    â€œEat lettuce, then. Order, or we won’t get to keep the table.”
    Kit ordered a salad. Jen, stating that she didn’t have a hot dinner date that night, ordered a steak. She didn’t intend to wait for their food to arrive, even if she did order her meat “mooing.”
    â€œTell me about him.”
    â€œI did. I met him at the