Only Hers Read Online Free PDF Page A

froze.
    Piercing black eyes watched her intently. “What—what’s the matter?” she asked, hating the breathless sound of her voice, hating worse that she was unable to do anything about it.
    “You were making moaning sounds.”
    She flushed. “I’m sorry. I guess I was enjoying the food and got carried away.”
    His searing gaze flickered to her lips. “So I gathered. Are you always so easily pleased?”
    Shannon’s grip on her fork tightened. “I enjoy good food, if that’s what you mean.”
    “It’s not and we both know it,” he said, his voice a lazy wisp of sound that caressed and promised endless pleasure.
    Shannon felt flushed. Unsteadily she rose. “Thank you for dinner and good night.”
    Matt came upright. Unrelenting fingers closed loosely around her wrist. “We haven’t had our talk yet.”
    Shannon felt the heat of his hand, the hypnotic pull of his black eyes. She fought to keep from swaying closer. God, what was the matter with her? “I—I think it’s best that I leave.”
    “Which one of us don’t you trust?”
    She shied away from the answer to his question. Her chin lifted. “My arm.”
    For a long moment Matt studied the defiance in her eyes that was in direct contrast to the trembling of her body, the pulse leaping wildly in her delicate wrist. All he had to do was exert the tiniest pressure and she would be in his arms. He was sure of it.
    His gaze lifted from her quivering lips to her wide, uncertain eyes. Fear mixed with desire stared back at him. Inexplicably, he felt the twin needs to console and possess. Both were dangerous. A grasping female like Shannon Johnson was the last woman on earth he wanted to become involved with. Long fingers uncurled; he stepped back.
    “Ready for dessert?”
    Two pairs of startled eyes swung toward the jovial female voice. Octavia stood by the kitchen counter with a lattice-crusted apple pie in her hands. The housekeeperfrowned on seeing the barely touched food on Shannon’s plate. “Didn’t you like my roast?”
    Shannon couldn’t help from glancing at Matt’s emotionless features. “It was very good, but I have to go.”
    “Nonsense,” the robust woman told her. “Matt, sit the young lady back down and I’ll put the pie within easy reach. Homemade vanilla ice cream is in the freezer.”
    Not wanting Matt to touch her again, Shannon quickly sat down on her own, but not before she saw the knowing look in his eyes before he took his own seat.
    “Since Matt has forgotten his manners, I’m Octavia Ralston, the housekeeper.”
    “Shannon Johnson.” This time her hand and her smile were accepted and returned.
    “You two eat up.” Octavia gave Matt a brilliant grin. “Don’t forget to put the food up when you do the dishes.”
    Matt spluttered.
    Shannon glanced from Matt’s shocked expression to the retreating back of the housekeeper. No sound came from her, but her round shoulders were shaking as if she were laughing.
    Shannon’s quizzical gaze went back to Matt. He looked ready to take someone’s head off. She smiled.
    Something had transpired between Octavia and Matt. Shannon hadn’t understood exactly what, but apparently Matt had been bested. Whatever the reason, she applauded anyone who could take down her opinionated host. Picking up her fork, she speared a potato and chewed with enthusiasm.
    “I see your appetite has returned,” Matt said.
    “Yes, it has.” She cut a sliver of roast. “I like Mrs. Ralston.”
    “Wouldn’t have anything to do with her putting me on dishwashing duty, would it?”
    Shannon smiled around a yawn. “I’ll help you do the dishes. I haven’t enjoyed a meal so much in months.”
    “I’ll do them myself,” he grumbled.
    “Fine.”
    Black eyes widened. “You aren’t going to argue?”
    Shannon took a sip of iced tea before answering. “No.”
    Matt couldn’t believe the whimsical smile on her face. Despite his obvious annoyance, she was fighting to keep from laughing. In his memory