Her Favorite Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page A

to talk to him again. On the other, it was simply an act of generosity between neighbors. Reciprocation, in fact, for his act of generosity toward her.
    In effect, she’d be paying a debt.
    She took a big swallow of wine, then poured a second glass before she could chicken out. Taking a deep breath, she exited her apartment and knocked on his door.
    The moment he answered, she launched into speech.
    “Hi. It occurred to me that you might like some wine with your pizza. And I just opened a new bottle, and there’s no way I’m going to drink it all on my own, so if you’d like some, you’re more than welcome....”
    Through a sheer act of will, she bit down on the rest of what she’d been going to say, offering him the glass.
    “Hey, thanks. I was just thinking I should have ordered Coke, too. Wine is much more civilized.”
    He took the glass, his fingers brushing hers.
    “Just knock on the wall or give me a shout from the balcony if you want a refill,” she said, backing away. “You know where to find me.”
    “Or you could eat your pizza with me. Bring the bottle with you,” Will said.
    She opened her mouth to respond, but she was so surprised nothing came out. He raised his eyebrows, waiting.
    “Okay,” she said.
    “Great. You need a hand grabbing your stuff?”
    “No. I don’t think so.”
    His mouth twitched at the corners and she knew he was doing his best not to laugh at her. And why not, since she was behaving like a woman who’d never had pizza and conversation with a man before.
    She swiveled and ducked into her apartment, rolling her eyes at herself.
    At least try to act like a woman with an IQ of 140 who has had recreational sex with a man before. For your pride’s sake.
    She tucked the bottle under her arm, then collected her glass and the pizza box. She was about to leave the kitchen when she remembered to snag her keys, too. Locking herself out of her own apartment would not be a good look.
    Will waited for her at his door, and he stood to one side and waved for her to enter his place first. It was a mirror image of hers, so she knew to continue down the hallway until she arrived in the living space.
    The TV was on, the sound turned down, and the other pizza box was resting on the coffee table, a half-eaten slice on the closed lid.
    “Grab a seat. You want some water, as well?” Will asked.
    “Sure. That would be good, thanks,” she said.
    He disappeared into the kitchen and she took a seat on the sofa. The room was decorated in corporate bland—lots of neutrals, swirly-nothing paintings on the walls, everything nice but not too nice. His guitar leaned against the wall in the corner, while a stack of paperwork occupied on a side table, and a sweater was draped over the back of the armchair that was positioned at right angles to the couch.
    “Here we go. The finest tap water that money can’t buy,” Will said.
    She accepted the glass he offered her and set it next to her wine. “Thanks.”
    He sat at the opposite end of the couch and leaned forward to pick up his pizza slice.She helped herself to a slice, trying to think of something to say.
    “Hope you’re not finding it too noisy here at night. The traffic outside takes a bit of getting used to,” she said.
    Not exactly sparkling conversation, but it was a start.
    “I haven’t really noticed, but I can sleep anywhere. Plane, train, bus. I’ve yet to find the location that can defeat my excellent sleeping skills.”
    “I know people who would kill to be able to sleep like that.”
    “It’s a gift, what can I say?” The glint in his eye told her his tongue was very firmly in his cheek.
    She racked her brain for another conversational gambit. If he was a colleague, they could talk about work. Funding cuts or overcrowding or a good outcome for a patient. But Will wasn’t a colleague, he was a musician. And she’d seen his bare chest and belly less than ten minutes ago.
    “I take it you put up with the noise because it means