Love on Trial Read Online Free PDF Page B

blue fabric. He was obviously on his way home from a date, still dressed in his dark evening clothes. He had on a white ruffled shirt that was anything but effeminate, making his complexion seem even darker. His hand was propped against the door facing, and ruby cuff links gleamed rich and red in the light.
    â€œYes, ‘oh’,” he said. His eyes narrowed. “What the hell do you mean, you’re not going with me?”
    She swallowed hard, hating her nerve for deserting her as she stepped back to let him in the house. “I…well…you know…”
    â€œI don’t know. That’s why I’m here. Iran into your father and Nadine downtown. Siri, so help me, sometimes I think you belong back in high school instead of in a newspaper office!” he growled.
    She stared at the carpet, unaware of the picture she made with her blond hair curling delicately around her flushed face, her long lashes hiding the expression in her amber eyes.
    â€œIt’s kind of hard to explain,” she mumbled.
    â€œThen let’s do it over a nightcap.” He took her arm firmly and propelled her back into the living room, while she tried desperately not to let him see how much his touch affected her.
    He poured two drinks at the bar, handing her a sherry while he fixed himself a scotch on the rocks.
    â€œI like scotch, too,” she protested, glaring down at the pale red liquid in her glass.
    â€œI like you sober. You cry when you’re drunk,” he taunted.
    â€œOnly that once!” she defended herself.
    â€œOnce was enough. Or have you forgotten…?”
    â€œI’m sure trying to, if you’ll let me!” she flashed back, embarrassed at the memory of how she’d clung to him in the car that night she overdid it at the senior prom, and he had to rescue her because Jared had been out of town.
    He smiled down at her, something he rarely did, but there was a boldness in the dark eyes as he gazed over the clinging caftan again.
    â€œI like you in blue,” he said.
    â€œThanks,” she murmured. She sipped the sherry nervously.
    â€œNow tell me why you don’t want to go.”
    She shifted restlessly. “Hawke, you know how Mark feels…”
    â€œAll I know is what a damned possessive jackass he is,” he said shortly, the smile disappearing at the mention of herboyfriend. “I don’t like the way he treats you. I never have.”
    â€œYou don’t understand!” she protested.
    â€œThe hell I don’t!” His eyes narrowed into a piercing glare. Hers fell before their onslaught, and she clutched the glass like a shield.
    He studied her downcast face for a long time, pausing to light a cigarette and take a long draw from it. “Now tell me the real reason, Siri,” he said firmly. “You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?”
    She couldn’t meet his eyes, but she wasn’t going to lie about it. She drew a slow breath. “Yes,” she admitted.
    A smile tugged at the corner of his chiseled mouth. “Why?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
    He took a draw from the cigarette. “Don’t you?” he asked.
    She lifted her eyes only to the top button of his shirt, quickly dropping them again.
    â€œHell, I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted,” he said. “My God, Siri, you’re still wet behind the ears.”
    She clenched her teeth. “I didn’t mean it that way!”
    â€œWhat other way is there? And look at me, dammit!”
    Her eyes jerked up. She flushed at the intent, totally adult look he was giving her.
    â€œYou…you said…in the restaurant…” she grasped for words.
    â€œI said what?” he growled. “That those seventeen years didn’t matter? What the hell did you think I was talking about? Siri, if I meant to seduce you, I wouldn’t have to take you all the way to Panama