Man with a past Read Online Free PDF Page A

relationship that’s conducted one hundred percent by your rules, Cole. I’ll make my own decisions about what I think is important and what I should know.“
    „Arrogant little witch,“ he breathed, not without a hint of admiration. „Do you think you can just call off our affair because I refuse to satisfy every aspect of your curiosity?“
    „Yes,“ she declared vehemently. „I do. I can call it off for whatever reason pleases me. Actually, to be perfectly factual about this association of ours, I don’t think you can call it a relationship, let alone an affair.“
    „Because I’ve only kissed you good-night a few times? Because I’ve let you send me home to a lonely bed every night we’ve been together? Lady, if you think that means we haven’t started an affair, you’re deluding yourself. I wanted to give you time, damn it!“
    „Why? So that I could get to know you better?“ she asked scathingly. „That’s a joke, considering your attitude toward questions!“
    „I’ve been wasting my time, haven’t I?“ Cole drawled, halting a few feet away to study her. She was poised to make a frantic dash out through the sliding-glass door, he realized. Her fingers were hovering on the handle.
    „I think I’m the one who’s been wasting time,“ Kelsey told him evenly. „But perhaps you’re right. Perhaps we’re both making the same mistake. We’re obviously not right for each other, Cole. I think that when you’ve had a chance to think about it you’ll realize that. You need some mindless little powder puff who won’t want a relationship that goes any farther than the bedroom.“
    „And what do you need, Kelsey?“ he asked deliberately, watching her hand without appearing to do so. Her fingers were tightening around the door handle now. In another moment she would yank open the door and make a dash for it. He wondered almost idly where she thought she could run to that he wouldn’t find her. Perhaps he’d let her flee for a short distance out into the misty night. It might teach her a lesson. A rain-soaked woman trying to run across a sandy beach while wearing a pair of ridiculously high heels would soon sense her own vulnerability.
    „I need a man who can share all of himself – past, present and future. A man who believes in honest relationships.
    Ialso need someone who’s in tune enough with me and the modern world to know that the last thing he should offer is to make me his paid mistress!“
    With that she made her bid for escape. Cole watched with almost lazy indulgence as she flung open the sliding door and darted out onto the wide veranda that overlooked the beach. She turned anxiously to glance back at him before starting down the steps that led to the beach.
    „Where are you going to go, Kelsey?“ he asked softly as she stood tensed for flight. „My home is about the nearest source of refuge. It’s a long walk into Carmel. And it’s very wet and cold out there tonight, isn’t it?“
    He watched the effect of his words as she stood under the veranda light. The fury and the fear were still engaged in a fierce tug-of-war in her eyes.
    „Why are you trying to terrify me, Cole? Just to get even for the fact that I’ve decided not to let you seduce me?“
    „I’m not trying to terrify you. I’m going to make love to you. It’s what I’ve been planning to do all evening and I’m not about to change my mind now.“
    Deliberately he stepped through the sliding-glass door, and her nerve broke. Kelsey turned and ran down the steps, out into the misty rain. Sighing at the prospect of having to get wet, Cole went after her. He was in no rush. She couldn’t possibly run far in those shoes. Soon she would realize the hopelessness of trying to flee, and the psychological impact of that realization would be useful.
    Besides, he reminded himself bleakly, this wasn’t the first time he’d set an ambush in the rain.
    It wasn’t hard keeping her in sight. The fiery-red knit dress was a