Heat Wave Read Online Free PDF

to get to know you,” he said after he sipped the wine. “You said you teach. What age children?”
    “All ages. I’ve taught remedial reading in grades two through twelve. This year I’m teaching high school.”
    “Do you often see quick results or are the results long-range?”
    “That’s the thrill of my work. It’s the most marvelous feeling in the world to see children change, to see them grasp the printed word, master a skill most of them thought impossible.”
    He rested his chin on his hand, leaning close to her while he listened to the enthusiasm in her voice. After sipping her wine, she continued. “I’ve worked out methods of my own and I’ve written a textbook.”
    “Hey, that’s pretty good!”
    “I’m pleased. It’s been adopted in some Wichita high schools this year and—”
    “Your eyes seem a deeper green than this afternoon,” he interrupted in a soft voice.
    A warmth slithered down her spine. “It’s this green dress that does it.”
    “I interrupted you. Go ahead. And …?”
    For an instant she stared at him blankly, trying to remember what she had been telling him. “Oh. Next year more schools will use my text. A high school in Arkansas City will have it and two in Topeka.” While she talked he scooted closer and reached out to brush a tendril of hair from her shoulder. Suddenly she had difficulty concentrating on her conversation. She’d had three sips of wine, yet she had a giddy feeling that was short-circuiting her thought processes. “I’m writing a second text now.”
    “I think that’s great! You must be good at teaching reading.” His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “My nephew has difficulty reading.” His hand rested on her shoulder, his flesh warm against her own, and he toyed with the ends of her hair.
    “Has he been tested for dyslexia, problems of that sort?” She tried to control a shiver as his fingers brushed the sensitive skin behind her ear.
    “Yep. He just doesn’t want to read, he doesn’t like it.”
    She studied his amazingly thick, curly eyelashes, his strong jaw and prominent cheekbones. “He probably doesn’t like reading because he can’t do it. How old is he?”
    “Eight.” He swished strands of her hair over her shoulder, tickling her skin, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.
    “He’s young. Usually the younger the student, the easier he is to help.”
    “Oh, you slipped there. Aren’t there any ‘she’s’—any girls?”
    “Of course not! We’re far quicker than the male.”
    He laughed, making creases deepen around his mouth and lines fan out from the corners of his eye. “The female—superior of the species.”
    “Naturally. Little girls come into the world with brains going full steam.”
    “All set on ensnaring a male.”
    She laughed. “Now you slipped,” she said with a laugh. “You revealed your feelings about women.” Sobering, she caught his hand. “This belongs here.” She removed it from her shoulder and placed it carefully on the arm of his chair.
    He immediately raised it again to trace her jaw. “Why? You don’t like my touch?”
    “I lose my train of thought.”
    His gaze moved leisurely over her features, lingering on her lips while his voice became husky. “Isn’t that a coincidence? I have the same reaction.” With each word he leaned closer and her pulse jumped wildly. His lips met hers, brushing, teasing, then taking hers fully. If anything, his kiss was more dazzling than it had been in the afternoon. The erotic tingles exploding from his demanding mouth set off a roar in her ears.
    She dimly felt him remove the glass of wine from her hand. He rose and slipped his arm around her waist. He lifted her easily and sat down with her on his lap. For a brief moment she yielded, running her fingers across the strong column of his throat, winding them in the thick, soft hair that curled at the nape of his neck.
    Like snatching at leaves in a high wind, she gathered her wits, pushing away and