Captive Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

the two of them cruising at romantic altitudes. A perfect place for him to try to trap her into wanting to fire the mysterious cold green depths of his eyes with desire.
    She blushed and silently chided herself for the direction her thoughts had taken. She could rest easy! The cold steel in Del Toro's eyes was not intended to ensnare her. He saw her as a mere girl, certainly not in the class of a jet set playboy, and one that had caused him a great deal of irritation at that!
    JoNell's reverie was interrupted by a vague, uncomfortable feeling. A gnawing in the pit of her stomach was growing more insistent. Ah, yes, that was her stomach crying out for food. In her excitement, she had forgotten that it was a Peruvian custom to eat a very late dinner. She had failed to nibble on a snack to tide her over until the late evening meal was served. Her mouth watered at the thought of exotic, foreign cuisine in an authentic atmosphere. The foreign cooking promised an exciting experience almost equal to the flowers she had received.
    JoNell reluctantly lifted her revived body from the warm, sensual caress of the tub and toweled until her body glowed a healthy pink. Then she opened her suitcases for the first time and shook out her traveling wardrobe which consisted of several jump suits of different colors, a sweater, a light jacket, and three dresses. While she realized that pants on women were not as acceptable in Peru as they were back home, she had anticipated that most of her time would be spent with Del Toro in the airplane, and jump suits were the most practical attire. Just in case, however, she had packed one party dress. Her slender fingers caressed the black chiffon. Now she was glad that she'd had the foresight to include the party dress.
    Regardless of what Del Toro thought of her, JoNell was determined to give him those flying lessons. However, it would be more pleasant if he didn't continuously regard her with that superior, impatient smirk, as if she were nothing more than a stubborn, willful child.
    JoNell slipped the dress over her head and pulled its tight waist line down to hug her small middle. When she sat down, the draping fabric outlined slender, well-proportioned thighs, and a tight, compact set of hips. Her high breasts filled out the bodice nicely. The v-neckline hinted of voluptuous curves just begging to be seen, but in fact, it revealed nothing to view. Just let him call me a "mere girl" after he sees me in this, JoNell thought contemptuously. Black satin pumps with ultra high heels and a pearl necklace completed the picture of simple elegance.
    Dressed in black, she looked years older and almost seductive, she knew. But there was a problem with her hair. The fluff of blond curls tumbling about her shoulders said "model" or "actress" or maybe even "show girl." While she was tempted to see if her appearance would turn on a light in those cold, steely green eyes of her host, she decided that her main objective was to convince Del Toro she was a woman, not a girl. A flick of her deft fingers placed her hair in an elegant knot on the top of her head. A single red rose, pinned on the left side above the ear, completed the look she was striving for.
    She checked out the effect critically in a full length mirror. Full, almost pouting lips, a pert nose and long lashes were reflected. Yes, she decided, she would go the full route and put on mascara, a hint of rouge and frosted lipstick. Her creamy complexion needed no foundation, so she patted on a dab of powder to soften the sheen on the tip of her small nose.
    She had just finished when she heard a heavy rapping on her door.
    "You ready, pet?" drawled Uncle Edgar's voice.
    "Yes," JoNell called. "I'm coming."
    "I'm starved—" Uncle Edgar began, but stopped in mid-sentence. "Why, I never—" he blurted out. "My land, child. You're not a child anymore. You've gone and grown up on me. Overnight."
    JoNell's heart purred, pleased at Uncle Edgar's reaction. Just wait