Ran From Him Read Online Free PDF Page B

wasn’t planning on reading it now.”
    Her eyes widened. It was shivery to think of him reading the private glimpses of her soul which she’d given in her book. She’d been silly to mention it to him. She avoided discussing it further. “What were you planning?” She sipped her tea, glad for something to do with her hands. They curled protectively around the white and blue china mug.
    “I think we could both do with working out some tension. There’s a swimming pool downstairs.”
    Swimming. Exercise. The idea appealed. “I don’t have bathers with me.” But she’d seen a boutique around the corner that sold them, and with summer a fast-fading memory, swimwear was on half-price sale. “A swim does sound good.”
    He waited as she argued it out with herself.
    The thought of exercise proved too tempting to resist, especially when her tense neck muscles twinged. She set down her mug. “Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be with you.”
    “Great.” He stretched, then slumped bonelessly. Apparently, he was prepared to wait all day for her company.
    Why? A few hours ago they were bristling at each other.
    Maybe by being nice to me, he thinks I’ll simmer down before dinner with Rob and Amie , Cate thought cynically. We don’t want Amie to be upset .
    Or maybe , said a tiny voice of hopeful goodwill . He honestly regrets what happened six years ago now that he knows the truth of it. Maybe he’s trying to be friends .
    Friends with Daniel? No . He didn’t need her—and she didn’t need him. There was nothing between them except bad history.
    She tapped impatiently at the lift button, wanting to escape her thoughts. She’d buy the bathers and a session in a cold swimming pool would clear her head. She rushed to the boutique and chose a red one-piece, thinking of how good the water would feel as exercise burned away her confused emotions.
    Only returning did she have second thoughts. Her steps slowed and the bag containing her new bathers bumped her knee. Idiot . She’d agreed, voluntarily, to spend time with Daniel. That’s not exactly avoiding him .
    But swimming didn’t count. They’d share the pool, but nothing else. Moreover, with the bathers in hand, she’d look foolish if she changed her mind.
    I’ll concentrate on swimming and ignore him.
    He must have heard the lift because he opened the door to the penthouse.
    All the air in her lungs vanished.
    He had changed into swimming gear. Wearing black trunks and a towel over one shoulder, he was gorgeously male.
    Her pulse thudded in shock and lust.
    “I’ve put a towel and a robe in your room.” He stepped aside so she could enter.
    “Ugh. Thanks.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say, and was despairingly aware of his recognition of her response to him. She clutched her shopping bag tighter, and hurried to her room.
    “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” The lecture was uninspired but sincere as she changed from her work clothes to bathers. Her fingers were clumsy. “You’ve seen men before.” She’d interviewed whole football teams. But when she looked at her face in the mirror, it remained flushed with embarrassment and arousal.
    She knotted the borrowed robe viciously tight at her waist, picked up the towel, and braced herself to face Daniel again.
    He had shrugged on a robe himself, and his eyes gleamed as he saw her relax at the sight. He flicked her cheek gently. “Men like to be appreciated as much as women. When your eyes widened at the sight of me—” He broke off as she gurgled with embarrassment. He grinned. “I appreciate you, too. In fact, I think it’s a good thing the pool’s cool rather than heated.”
    She couldn’t find an answer.
    He laughed, locked the penthouse behind them and lead the way to the pool.
    She dived in with relief, and set out on a fast lap. Daniel kept pace, then after a couple of laps, surged ahead. When they both swam to the side of the pool, she’d forgotten her embarrassment.
    “You’re a