Explosive Passion Read Online Free PDF Page A

mother just thinks it’s a hobby. Now that Ace has married and there’s a granddaughter on the way, she thinks I should be next. Give up my boutique, settle down and become a baby machine. That’s not me.”
    “I never said it was.” He laid his hand on her arm, smoothing up and down it. “Your family always seemed supportive.”
    “My parents are supportive of Ace and Lucky, but the hidden secret is that they hate my work. My designs are too edgy and revealing; they want me to close up shop and settle down with a nice man who can take care of me. That’s not me. I’m not Suzie homemaker who’s happy being barefoot and pregnant. I want a life and a career of my own. Why should I have to choose?”
    “You shouldn’t. You can have everything you want and be married, even have some munchkins if that’s what you want.”
    He hated to see her so frustrated. The very idea that her parents pressured her to give up something she loved ate at his stomach. He had been there with his own parents, and in the end it only made things tense between them. A trip home hadn’t happened in years, even phone calls to his parents were effectively nonexistent between because of the tension over his choice of careers. He didn’t like the idea that Wynn was suffering with the same thing. Maybe he’d talk with Ace and they’d see if the two of them could make the Diamond parents lay off of Wynn’s career choice.

 
    D iscussing her family and their views on her boutique made Wynn’s stomach churn. All her life she’d strived for her parent’s approval. The boutique was the first thing that was really against what they wanted for her. It was the one thing she wanted more than anything else was and she wasn’t about to give it up.
    “Three days ago I received a call from New York. I kept it to myself because I knew what my parents’ reaction would be and I didn’t want to spoil the wedding.” She paused, unable to refuse when he dangled another strawberry in front of her.
    “What did they want?” He pushed as she enjoyed the sweet berry.
    “Me…well, my designs.” She swallowed, pushing the anxiety down. “I have seven days to prepare ten designs for them to evaluate. If they like them, I’ll have a small section in a boutique on Fifth Avenue in New York City.”
    “That’s wonderful, congratulations!” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. The wine lingered on his lips, mixing with the berries to provide an alluring combination. Wanting more, she slipped her tongue between his lips, allowed them to dance for a moment before pulling away.
    “I’ve been dying to tell someone. I tried to get Lucky alone so I could tell him yesterday but he was so busy with last minute details and then the bachelor party. Ace and Gwen won’t know until they get back from their honeymoon and I didn’t want to tell my parents until things were official because I knew how they’d react.” She was rambling but it felt like a weight was lifted off her chest. Finally, someone knew, and better still, they actually celebrated it with her.
    “How about when we make it back home, I cook you dinner and we’ll celebrate?”
    “You don’t have to do that.” The kindness of his offer touched her.
    “I want to, and don’t you worry sweet cheeks, I know how to cook. What do you say? Will you join me for dinner? We’ll make it back home tomorrow and I know you’re itching to get back to work, so how about the next night?”
    “Okay.” She nodded, because dinner was the next step in seeing where what was between them could go.
    “Good.” He held out another berry. “I hate to be the one to press a sore subject but when are you going to tell your parents?”
    “As much as I would love to hear their support, I won’t get it, so I’m going to wait as long as I can. I’m sure one of my big-mouthed brothers will say something about it before I get around to it. There’s no reason to fight them if I don’t get it, so I’ll