One Blazing Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

the pantry. She opened the door, stepped inside, then closed the door behind her.
    â€œWhat, you need a cookie?”
    â€œGo put your bag away,” she said, her muffled voice sounding stressed.
    â€œAre you sick? You can tell me.”
    â€œMatthew. Go. Away.”
    â€œFine,” he said as he wandered into the living room and waited by a glass table that sat in front of the couch. It was the perfect vantage point, putting the pantry door in his line of sight without his crowding her. There was a small fountain trickling away somewhere, which was very pleasant, but he only had eyes for the pantry. He noticed, as he stared, that the room smelled really good. Was that what was making him horny? He was pretty damn controlled about these things, but after a few minutes of deep focus, he started to wilt.
    Maybe it wasn’t the smell. The color of the walls, then? But why would she want him to get worked up? The idea didn’t bother him nearly as much as it should have, but it still made no sense.
    The minutes ticked by and he considered getting his bags and putting them in the bedroom, but no. He was going to wait for her. If she was sick, he wanted to be available. Although a person about to be sick would usually head to the bathroom, but then, Sammy had always walked her own unique path.
    The walls went white. All of them, all at once. It was highly dramatic. And a little scary. “Sam?”

3
    S AM EXITED THE PROGRAM and tucked her phone in her pocket. She hoped that took care of the damn mood sensors. Except now it was totally dark.
    Oh, right. She opened the door.
    Matt’s bags were still in the foyer. He was standing near the entrance to the kitchen and was staring at her as if he expected her to say something. Only she wasn’t sure what that thing was.
    Matt spoke first. “Is everything okay?”
    â€œYes. Why wouldn’t it be?” She glanced around her, trying to pretend her being in the pantry with the door closed was no big deal.
    Matt walked straight past her, stepped inside the pantry, looked around and then came out a minute later carrying a box of gingersnaps.
    She should have gone to the bathroom. Obviously. Why had she headed for the pantry ,of all places? “It was just work stuff. The wall-color program wasn’t working right.”
    â€œI see,” he said, opening the box of cookies and holding it out to her.
    She grabbed a few, knowing she was still blushing. Not a thing she could do about that. Maybe she should just wear blush-colored makeup. Huh. That way he’d never know when she was really blushing. “Anyway,” she said, still chewing the little piece of cookie she’d bitten off.
    â€œHave dinner with me?”
    Her mouth stilled along with her brain. “What?”
    â€œDinner. With me.”
    â€œI have to go back to work. I have a deadline to meet.”
    â€œOkay. How about I get takeout from one of your many menus and bring it to your lab? I’d love to see it. I wouldn’t stay long. Just enough for a quick tour and a quicker dinner.”
    â€œNo,” she said, her heart taking it up a notch. “I really have to work.”
    â€œI understand, but you also have to eat.” He captured her hand and pulled her close.
    Her hand, the one without the cookies, went right to his chest. For a moment, she froze. Just being this close to him was amazing... Smelling his wonderful scent, parts of her touching parts of him. She leaned back to look at him, to try to figure out what was going on. And met his gaze. His warm brown eyes. The eyes she’d known so well she had seen them in her sleep. “What are you doing?”
    â€œYou’ve filled out nicely,” he said, tightening his arm around her, “but I bet you’re still skipping meals. It’s not a good habit, Sammy. And I don’t want to play a part in it. Tonight that means you’re eating with me one way or