Free Falling Read Online Free PDF

the other. He plucked the papers from
her and eyed her warily.
    “I’m sorry,” she muttered, her face flaming
as scarlet as his own must surely be.
    “Don’t move,” he commanded when she would
have taken another step in his direction. Mac glanced over his
shoulder and then back to her. “Just stay right there until I’m out
of here.”
    “I said I was sorry,” Free repeated
contritely. She bit her lower lip and shoved her hands into the
deep pockets of her overalls, and stared at the floor.
    When Mac had cleared the makeshift wall of
antique doors, he jetted toward the exit. He had to get away from
this woman while he still could. She was definitely dangerous.
    In more ways than one.
     
    ~*~
     
    Free pushed aside the lace panel and peeked
out her kitchen window. His lights were still on, but it was almost
ten o’clock. It wouldn’t be neighborly to bother Mac at this time
of night. She glanced at the homemade apple pie on her counter. It
had cooled enough to handle by now. She really should take it to
him and get it over with. Especially after what she had done to him
earlier that evening. Free cringed when she remembered the scene in
the garage.
    She wasn’t usually so clumsy, but being
around him seemed to bring out the klutz in her. And worse. She had
never bitten or kicked anyone in her entire life! She still found
it hard to believe that she had actually done it. But she had. And
wound up in the pokey because of it. Alex and Emily had laughed
until their sides hurt a dozen times over in the past twenty-four
hours.
    It had to be the Scorpio influence. As a
Libra, Free loathed conflict. Mac’s naturally aggressive
personality and tendency toward conflict disturbed her inner
peace.
    But they were neighbors and somehow Free had
to learn to deal with his forceful nature. A lack of balance and
harmony would disrupt her serenity. She had to find common ground
with the man. She had to keep Oscar off his lawn and she had to
remember to rake up after the magnolia. Whatever it took to keep
him calm and happy.
    Free blew out a breath and tucked her wild
hair behind her ears. It was now or never. She carefully picked up
the pie, snagged the gift bag she had saved and started for the
door. Oscar padded up behind her, his soulful eyes begging for
permission to accompany his master.
    “Stay, boy,” she commanded. The big dog
dropped his head and ambled back to his favorite spot under the
kitchen table. Free twisted the knob and walked out the back door
before the second thoughts brewing inside her head could stop
her.
    The air was still and smelled of magnolia
blossoms and crepe myrtle blooms. Free glanced heavenward to admire
the stars. The grass was damp with an early dew and tickled her
bare feet. She adored the sultry Southern summer nights. The
concerto of crickets crying for rain was like music to her ears.
Free considered putting the pie aside and whirling around the yard
a time or two. She loved to dance. People had always told her that
rhythm was in her blood. She could feel the beat of any kind of
music more deeply than most. And nights like this were made for
dancing outdoors.
    Another kind of dance suddenly leapt to mind,
filling her head with visions of two bodies tangling in a rhythm as
old as time. Desire sparked and she immediately dismissed that line
of thinking. Connor McFerrin was her neighbor, and definitely off
limits—no matter what Alex thought.
    Besides, he wasn’t the kind of guy a woman
like her should get involved with. He was controlling, intense, and
much too good-looking. Mating for life had probably never entered
his analytical mind. Connor McFerrin –Mac, she reminded herself—was
a mover and a shaker. Free Renzetti lived a simple, uncluttered
life. She was air, he was water. Opposites in every respect. But
perhaps they could live next to each other in some semblance of
harmony.
    On his moonlit back stoop, Free paused to
take three deep, calming breaths before she knocked. Long,