Kiss And Dwell Read Online Free PDF Page A

two shadows darting from the nearest cane field to the house. Dax and Jenee , she wagered, out snatching sugar cane for an evening snack. And she ’ d also wager that the shadow leaning against the porch post with folded arms, a cascade of pitch-black hair down her back and her shoulders held stern, was Nanette. And a none-too-happy Nanette at that. Well, fine. Monique never asked for this job, and she sure wasn ’ t going to take any flack from Nanette for her almost-orgasm at
Pierre ’ s place.
    After parking the car, she heard another sound, a ripping noise mingling with the thunder. A determined gust of wind brutally whipped at the plastic currently sheltering their roof. Lord, she hoped the thing held. She wasn ’ t in the mood for climbing ladders and trying, once again, to make sure their dilapidated mansion stood yet another test of time. When were those historical folks going to give them the money they needed to keep the place standing?
    Nanette stepped out into the rain and turned her attention from Monique to the noisy tarp.
    Monique climbed out of the car and quickly worked to get the top up and cover her leather. Dax and Jenee joined in her effort.
    “ The tarp will hold, Nanette! ” Dax yelled, gritting his teeth as he fought to clamp down one side of the Mustang ’ s top. “ Get on the porch and out of the rain. ” Then he turned toward Monique and Jenee , and in a tone that made it clear that he ’ d just declared himself the man in charge, he continued, “ Go on. I ’ ve got this. ”
    Monique ’ s brows drew together, but she was hurting too bad, burning too much, to argue. She did need to get inside, and get to that letter. When rain this hard actually felt good on her sizzling skin, it was high past time to answer the summons. Obviously, from the scowl on
Nan ’ s face, she was way, way past time.
    “ I know you felt it. ” Nan
had to raise her voice to be heard over the rain pattering against the tarp-covered roof and splatting loudly on the stone steps leading to the house. Tiny channels in the grass-deprived yard were already sending streams of watery mud toward the edge of the house. “ Why didn ’ t you come when she called you? ” she asked, frowning at Monique and then at the muddy ground.
    Monique glared at her and silently dared her oldest cousin to spout any more accusatory remarks. “ I was on the verge of great sex, ” she said, her skin burning more fiercely with every step. Even the thin fabric from her dress, rubbing against her rain-dampened skin, stung like a hot iron. She needed to get to that letter. Now.
    “ You can ’ t ignore it anymore. You have to come when she calls, ” Nan
said, as Monique struggled to cross the deep width of the porch. Breathing was difficult when her flesh burned so fiercely.
    Jenee quickly moved to open the door for her, but Monique stopped walking.
    “ Don ’ t, ” Monique managed, swallowing through her parchment-dry mouth. “ Don ’ t you dare start with me tonight,
Nan
. I ’ m here, aren ’ t I? ”
    Nan
blinked, then her jaw softened, and she frowned. “ I ’ m sorry, ” she said .
    “ It ’ s the roof and the house and the mud and the Roussel brothers. Everything got me worked up, and then you didn ’ t come. ”
    “ I ’ m here now, and I really have to get inside. I don ’ t like this,
Nan
. You know I don ’ t. ” Monique licked the rain from her lips to gather what moisture she could. “ But I ’ m here. ”
    “ Yes, ” Nan
agreed. “ You are. ” She gave her a soft, apologetic smile, and Monique nodded her acceptance, then let Jenee guide her into the house, past the big sheets of plastic that closed off most of the first floor and up the stairs toward the sitting room.
    Dax called, “ No need to worry! The top ’ s back on your car, sis. ”
    “ That ’ s good, ” Monique said, removing her shoes at the top of the stairs. Her feet were aflame, and she wasn ’ t going to be able to walk much