Chaste Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page B

place. But you didn't have cracked ribs last weekend, or the one before that. We've been seeing each other for months. Don't you think it's time for our relationship to move to the next level?"
    "I'm just not ready.” Geez, another cop-out. Come on, chicken, tell him .
    Stalking to the window, Chad ran his fingers through his short blonde hair. She studied the clear-cut lines of his profile. He had a polished look about him with his hair trimmed to perfection and the classic cut of his slacks and crisply starched shirt. Any other woman would be drooling at the sight of him, and Isabel had in the beginning. She actually thought she'd made quite a catch when they started seeing each other regularly, but not any longer. His caresses and kisses did nothing to stir her blood. Only a figment of her imagination managed to speed up her heart rate these days.
    Isabel cleared her throat, shoving thoughts of her nonexistent lover to the side. “Chad, I've been doing a lot of thinking."
    He turned from the window to face her, obviously still disgruntled.
    "I think we should break up.” His silent cold stare unnerved her, and she rushed on. “Uncle Jerome and I are going into business together. Here—in Brantley. So, you see it wouldn't make sense to keep seeing each other."
    The news finally registering, he stomped across the room back to the bed. “Absolutely not. I've put too much time into this relationship for you to just throw it away."
    "I'm sorry, Chad, but I-I don't love you."
    "Love? What the hell does that have to do with anything?"
    Stunned, her jaw dropped. “Then I don't understand—"
    He gripped her upper arms, staring hotly into her eyes. “Your uncle may be an eccentric, but he's well known on Wall Street, and so was your father. Even though you're broke, your breeding makes you the perfect senator's wife."
    Isabel's stomach lurched and churned as angry tears burned the backs of her eyes. All this time he was only using her and her ridiculous social status. How could she have been so blind?
    She threw back her shoulders, tearing away from his grip. The move cost her dearly, but she ignored the pain and stared coldly into his eyes. “Goodbye, Chad. Don't call me. Don't come see me. I don't ever want to see you again."
    Grabbing her, he vigorously shook her battered body. “No one dumps Chad Martin. Do you hear me? Especially not some drab little bitch with ice in her veins!"
    She felt as though her ribs were pulling apart, the bones snapping. Her teeth clenched, she held her breath, trying to ignore the mind-shattering pain.
    Clang! Bang! Crash!
    "What the hell?” Shoving her away, Chad spun around.
    Isabel fell back against the pillows, gasping with tiny breaths as she took in the Chaos exploding around them.
    Invisibly, William jerked open cabinets, slammed doors, and toppled furniture. In the beginning, he felt guilty for listening in on their conversation, but now his rage ruled his actions. How dare the knave lay his hands upon his sweet Isabel? He wanted to pull the man up by the scruff of his neck and run him through. Damn the curse upon him!
    Not satisfied with the calamity he created, William picked up an antique chair and held it aloft with every intention of pummeling the cur.
    "No! Please,” Isabel wheezed.
    William froze for a moment, then carefully returned the chair to the floor. Blast the woman and her cursed love of antiques. He would have to show himself and frighten the whoreson away.
    Moaning, William appeared in solid form, his skin a ghastly shade of green, his hands extended and groping, with a gleaming dagger dripping with blood protruding from his chest. As he stumbled toward the heinous excuse of a man, he hid the smile threatening to spread across his face. The codpiece turned pale and stumbled back from William's gruesomeness, until at last, the swine scampered out the door screaming his fool head off.
    The moment he left, William let loose a deep bellowing laugh, allowing his visage