Her Favorite Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page B

than frozen honey-mustard chicken.”
    At least she’d resolved one issue—the verbal incontinence was back. She collected her wineglass, ready to beat an ignominious retreat.
    “Why was your day shitty?” Will asked.
    She froze. He watched her, an interested, amused light in his eyes.
    “Seriously?” she said. Because she couldn’t believe that he truly wanted to prolong the awkwardness.
    “Sure. Tell me about your shitty day and I’ll tell you about mine.”
    “You had a shitty day?”
    “Yep. So I’m really hoping you’ll share the rest of your bottle of wine with me.”
    He seemed genuine. And she definitely had room for more food. On the other hand, she really didn’t think she could stand more awkwardness. Having a klieg light shone on her inadequacies was a tad too painful tonight.
    She bit her lip. Then she sank onto the couch.
    “Good decision.” Will grabbed the bottle and topped up their glasses. “Now spill. Share your pain with me.”
    She thought about what she should say. Then shrugged. What the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound.
    “I quit my job a few weeks ago, and this is actually my last week as a surgeon. I’ve finally worked out that I want to specialize in clinical immunology, and my parents are having conniptions....”
    Out it all came: her parents’ reaction when she broke the news; the phone calls since; her mother lying in wait for her in the car park.
    “Okay, your shitty day officially trumps my shitty day,” Will said when she’d finished.
    “Why was your day so bad?”
    “I was expecting something in the mail and it didn’t arrive. And I got a ticket for jaywalking when I went out at lunchtime.”
    Her mouth curled into a smile, all on its own. Utterly irrepressible. “That’s all you got?”
    “And I messed up my pizza order.”
    She laughed. “You’re right, my day was definitely worse than yours. Although I can’t believe you got booked for jaywalking. Who does that?”
    “Some wet-behind-the-ears officer, fresh out of the academy,” Will said.
    “He’s going to make himself popular with the public.”
    “Exactly what I told him. But perhaps not using those exact words.”
    “Here’s a deal for you—you handle my mum for me, and I’ll pay your jaywalking fine.”
    “No way. Your mum sounds scary.”
    “She is.” Leah’s smile faltered.
    “That was a joke, by the way, not a genuine comment on your mother,” Will said quickly.
    “I know. It just hit me that I am actually scared of her. Pretty sad, huh?” She felt exposed the moment the words were out of her mouth. Oversharing , Mathews. Ever heard of the concept?
    Will settled into the corner of the couch, his expression thoughtful. “I think it’s pretty sad for her, definitely. If I ever have kids, I’d hate to think they’d be scared of me.”
    “I don’t think she does it on purpose. I think she has incredibly high standards and she wants the world to measure up to them.”
    “She must live in a state of perpetual disappointment, then.”
    “It’s definitely a case of please-me-or-else, that’s for sure.” Guilt bit at her the moment the words were out of her mouth. She loved her parents and it felt...disloyal to discuss her mother’s faults with someone she’d just met.
    “Relax. I can almost guarantee the room is not bugged, and my lips are sealed.”
    She stared at him, a little thrown by how easily he’d read her.
    “You have a very expressive face.” He shrugged apologetically.
    “This is the problem with being a good girl all your life,” she said helplessly. “Guilt, an overactive worry gland and a face that can apparently be read like a book.”
    He tilted his head to one side, narrowing his eyes a little as he considered her.
    “What?” she felt compelled to ask.
    “I’m thinking you’re not that much of a good girl. I’m betting you know how to be bad when you need to be.”
    It was such an outrageously flirtatious thing to say, for a moment she could