Heartbreaker Read Online Free PDF Page B

served coffee and dessert, Susan realized she was really tired. She’d have to wait until everyone left, though, so Matt could drive her home.
    As if on cue, Matt spoke up. “Uh, Michael, would you mind dropping Susan off at her place on your way home?”
    â€œNot at all.” Michael leveled a sardonic glance on her. “I probably should go since I have to return to Houston in the morning. If you’re ready, Susan?”
    She realized there was absolutely nothing she could say but yes. She hugged her sister, told Josie what a lovely job she was doing with Lena, bid the Carson brothers good-night and allowed Michael to escort her from the house.
    In the car, with moonlight softly illuminating the landscape and the cool night air flowing through her hair, Susan fumed silently, determined not to quarrel or even speak for the duration of the ride. Thank goodness it wouldn’t be long, for the Wainwright ranch adjoined the Carson spread along one side.
    â€œIs it too windy?” he asked. “Shall I put the top up?”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œIt was a good thing Flynt took the baby, wasn’t it?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œThe foundling brought Josie into his life. She’s been good for him, I think, just as Rose had been good for Matt.”
    â€œMmm,” she said.
    Michael enjoyed needling her into conversation, such as it was. He had to fight a grin as her answers grew shorter and shorter. “Why don’t you say what you’re thinking before you explode?” he suggested.
    â€œAnd what is that?” she asked haughtily.
    â€œThat you’d rather ride on a bony mule than in a car with me.”
    â€œPersonally, I can’t see much difference.”
    That did it. He burst into laughter while she flashed him a killing glance from those cool green eyes. “I’ve always been attracted to a woman of quick wit and a fiery temperament,” he murmured.
    He was certainly attracted to this woman, he admitted. Flames singed his insides as they rode through the balmy September night. He had the feeling she wasn’t indifferent, either, although she pretended he didn’t exist at the moment, focusing her attention on the moonlight-flooded fields.
    â€œBeautiful night, isn’t it? If we were a couple of kids on a date, I’d be looking for a parking spot about now. Maybe under those pine trees over there.”
    â€œYou’d get pine sap on your car,” she informed him.
    â€œFor you I’d chance it,” he goaded, his voice lowering to a sexy, husky level that he hadn’t intended.
    Arriving at the entrance to the Wainwright ranch, he turned in, then stopped in front of a sprawling white ranch house reminiscent of South Fork on the old TV series, Dallas. He wondered which bedroom was hers.
    She had the door open almost before he stopped. When she headed for the house entrance, he was hot on her heels. With a deliberately casual air, he grasped her arm as if to make sure she didn’t stumbleand fall into the lush landscaping bordering the front walk.
    â€œThanks for the ride,” she said politely. It was an obvious dismissal.
    Something stubborn reared up inside him. “No trouble,” he murmured, then did something he’d never done before: he kissed an unwilling woman.
    Bending slightly forward, he lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers, softly, teasing her and perhaps himself because of the sparks that flashed between them now and that had from that first encounter in the street.
    If he had any sense, he’d run as fast as he could in the opposite direction from this beautiful young woman with her lithe dancer’s body and her fierce anger at the unfair hand she’d been dealt.
    Instead of slapping his face as he half expected, Susan stood perfectly still during the first brief kiss, then another…and another.
    It was hard to stop, to give up the softness of her mouth, to ignore