Midnight Heat (Black Phoenix Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

drive that,” she managed as uncontrollable laughter began to bubble up and out of her.
    “I think she did it on purpose to get back at me for totaling her car and scaring her.”
    “From stud to soccer mom in zero-point-four.” Damn, she liked Isabeau already. “Can you feel the testosterone leaching out of your body with every mile?”
    Judging by the tight set of his jaw, he didn’t find it nearly as funny as she did. Rebecca lost the battle. She doubled over with laughter, straightening just in time to see a dark frown crease his forehead as he folded his arms over his chest.
    “Are you done yet?”
    “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to go serious and not quite making it.
    “Are you?”
    She managed to stop laughing but couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. “Not so much, no.” Although she hadn’t thought it possible, his scowl deepened. “What’s the matter, crabby today?”
    He let out a low, deep breath. “Apparently,” he admitted, surprising her with his honesty.
    Rebecca sobered. Tension radiated off him, pulling every part of his body tight. “How are you feeling?”
    He fell silent and lifted a hand as if he meant to reach out and touch something—her perhaps.
    She held her breath.
    His hand fell to his side.
    She sighed. “Well?”
    “Well what?”
    “How do you feel?”
    “I feel great.”
    “The truth, Dominic, give me the courtesy of it, will you?”
    “I feel like shit. Your laughing at me doesn’t help.”
    His level of pain could be gauged by the way he held himself, and his careful indrawn breaths. The doctor in her wanted to reach out and comfort. The woman in her wanted to reach out for a completely different reason. She’d never had such an irresistible urge to touch anyone the way she wanted to touch him. It had been there right from the beginning, their first meeting, and was still just as strong now.
    She fisted her hands to keep from acting on the impulse.
    “Can I come in?”
    Definitely not. Even injured and surly, he still emanated so damn much testosterone he made her teeth sweat. Her heart did a little flutter whether she wanted it to or not. “That’s not a good idea.”
    “Have dinner with me.” There was the arrogance that had been missing a few moments before. His tone wasn’t commanding, but left no doubt in her mind that for him there was only one answer.
    Too bad she couldn’t give it. “I already ate.”
    “Tomorrow?”
    “No.”
    His brow furrowed. “Why the bleedin’ hell not? Are you involved with someone?”
    “I’m not seeing anyone, no.”
    At her admission, he stepped closer, invading her space. Heat emanated off him, and although he did not touch her, she felt surrounded by him. “Take a drive with me?”
    The low, soft timbre of his voice thrilled her, washed over her skin like a caress, and she fought a tremor. The heat of his body warmed her through her clothes. Wanting to step closer, to press against him and inhale his all too familiar scent, Rebecca stepped away. Physically distancing herself from him. She only wished emotional distance was as easily achieved. “Drive where?”
    “Does it matter?”
    Not really, since there was no way on earth she was getting in a car with him tonight. Not when just the sight of him had her hormones standing at attention, one whiff of him, her body thrumming. Not after spending the entire day thinking about him.
    Remembering.
    Aching.
    Did he still hurt over the loss of what could have been? Did he still dream of her, of them? Had he ever?
    Dominic blew out a breath and shook his head, his frustration clear. “It’s just a damn drive, Becca.”
    It was so much more. Acceptance would be the first crack in the barrier she’d built around her heart after he’d walked out. With only the smallest encouragement, he would stop by on a regular basis, invite her to spend time with him. Which would, even if she kept her wits about her and turned him down, lead to more heartache. Just seeing him again