More Than Neighbors Read Online Free PDF Page A

asked, allowing her gaze to slide dreamily across the picturesque scenery.
    “I don’t work much.” Lying on the plastic bench of the cockpit, Leopold studied her surreptitiously through drowsy, half-closed eyes.
    “Someone who’s away from home for more than a month at a time works rather a lot, don’t you think?” Cat lifted her face to the single ray of sunshine that had managed to break through the thick layer of clouds.
    “That particular trip involved business that took longer than I thought it would. I do travel a lot, but I don’t normally spend more than two or three days away. And you, Catalina, what do you do?” he asked, eager to know more about his bewildering neighbor.
    At his question, Catalina turned toward him, opening her eyes. “I teach art to disabled people,” she replied. Leopold fixed his gaze on her; her answer was the last thing he’d expected. “You don’t believe me?” she asked, guessing his thoughts. “I bet you thought I was superficial, one of those girls who’s only interested in partying and having as much fun as possible.”
    “I confess you’ve surprised me.”
    “Well, you haven’t me.” Her brown eyes flashed mischievously. “I know exactly what picture you’ve formed of me; you’re as predictable as the English weather.”
    Catalina closed her eyes again, hoping to catch some more sun, but the clouds were growing denser. Leo was annoyed that she was teasing him. Predictable, eh? The minx was going to find out just how predictable he was. “You really think that?” Slowly, he lowered his long legs from the bench.
    “Uh-huh,” she answered without opening her eyes. “You’re the kind of man that my friend Fiona classifies as a B.O.W.”
    “A B.O.W.?” He crept toward her.
    “Bigoted Obsessive Worker.”
    Suddenly, his powerful arms grabbed her and urged her to her feet. Before she realized what was happening, Catalina found herself held tightly against a chest as hard as concrete. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I just want to show you that I’m not as predictable as you think,” he replied in a relaxed tone, though his gray eyes flashed with mischief.
    A huge smile lit up the young woman’s face when she saw his expression. Amused, she asked, “What’re you going to do? I don’t think you’ll be able to ravish me in this cockleshell; it’d be terribly uncomfortable and we could easily capsize.” Leopold was thrown off-balance; he’d expected to make her at least a little nervous.
    “I don’t think I’ll go that far.” He held her delicate chin between thumb and forefinger, and tipped her face up toward his as he slowly tilted his head down.
    “You’d better not,” Catalina warned him, very seriously.
    “Why? I can’t imagine it’s the first time you’ve been kissed.” His face stopped a couple of inches from hers.
    “I should warn you of something.”
    Curious, Leopold looked into her brown eyes sprinkled with gold, a glint belying her apparent gravitas. “That sounds ominous. What should I know?”
    “That anyone who kisses me falls hopelessly in love with me,” Cat declared in a thundering voice, still completely serious.
    Her neighbor raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, and moved in closer. “I’ll take the risk.”
    Gently, Leopold rested his mouth on her tempting lips, ready to school this infuriating woman in a way she wouldn’t forget. Catalina’s lips were cool and tasted faintly of chocolate. Leo applied his full arsenal of skills; he wanted her to realize he wasn’t the boring, predictable type she thought he was, but he was in no way prepared for the explosive surge of hormones that her soft, full lips triggered when they responded to his. Good Lord! he thought, dazed. This woman can make a man lose his head in just one kiss!
    “Okay, Leo.” Leopold didn’t know how much time had passed when Catalina finally rested her palms on his chest, lightly trying to push him away. He heard her voice as if it