Sighs Matter Read Online Free PDF Page A

snickered and nudged Taylor with his elbow. “You said she’d say that. What, you two have a big fight or something?”
    What does that mean?
    “Yeah. Or something ,” Taylor drawled, his eyes never leaving Claire’s.
    Aranca laughed. “Hey. Kiss and make up, okay? You two’ll have beautiful babies. Listen, Mac. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    “Thanks, Bobby,” Taylor said, his blue eyes still locked on Claire’s.
    Detective Aranca sauntered off down the hallway, whistling a happy tune, leaving her alone with the wrong damn McKennitt brother.
    His gaze touched her forehead, and he frowned. “How’d you get the bruise? Are you all right?”
    She reached up, her fingertips pressing lightly on her tender skin. “I played crash-test dummy with my aunt’s truck. I’m okay.”
    “Do you have any other injuries?” His gaze raked her from head to toe and he curled his fingers as though he wanted to check her out personally.
    “No.”
    “You sure?” He narrowed his eyes, gauging whether she was telling the truth. Flattening his mouth, he said, “You’re going to the hospital.”
    “No,” she rushed. “I’m fine. I just want to take a bath and get some sleep.”
    For a moment, neither of them spoke. Claire looked away, but she felt his scrutiny just as though he were running his fingertips along her cheek, and down her body, low, across her belly.
    Taking a reinforcing breath, she pushed herself to her feet, fighting a wave of dizziness that weakened her knees. Taylor lowered his arms and looked as though he wanted to help steady her, but he stayed where he was.
    “Thank you for bailing me out, Taylor. I appreciate it, but I haven’t done anything wrong. I was set up.”
    He smiled sympathetically, sort of. “Yeah. We’ve got a whole jail full of innocent bystanders. But in your case, I guess I’m willing to keep an open mind.”
    “In my case?” She raised her eyes to meet his. “An open mind? But you know me.”
    He lowered his voice. “Yeah, if the biblical sense counts for anything. You know, Doc, I must have been a few beers short of a six-pack to have gotten involved with you. But, live and learn.”
    He clamped his jaw tightly closed and stared at her.
    She lifted her chin. “Well, sorr-ree. It was my best friend’s wedding. It was fun and romantic. You and I, well, we drank champagne, danced way too close, and one thing led to another. It happens .” That’s as much as she would ever confess to him about that night, about how she’d felt, and what had really driven her into his arms.
    “One thing led to another three times.” He arched a brow.
    “You’re being unfair—”
    “I think I’m being damn fair,” he interrupted. “More than fair, considering. I’ve heard it from my brother that his wife told him that you don’t particularly care for my line of work.”
    “What’s your point?”
    “My point is ,” he said, leaning forward to glare into her eyes. “My line of work seems to be coming in pretty frigging handy tonight, getting your delectable little ass out of a jam, wouldn’t you say?”
    She took in a full breath, and let it out slowly.
    “I’ve already said thank you, Detective.” Attempting to moderate her anger was like trying to put out a fire with an ice cube.
    He made a sweeping motion with his arm. “I should probably leave you here. Let them toss you into holding so you can see how the other half lives, but my brother would have my nuts on a platter if I did that.”
    She scowled. “If that’s the case, maybe I’ll stay. I think I’d like to see your nuts on a platter, even though I’d probably need a microscope to find them.”
    “If memory serves, you had no trouble with my anatomy eight months ago.”
    “Taylor—”
    “If we’re done discussing my nuts,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “can we go now? I was in bed having a really hot dream, and I’d like to get back to it.”
    “Fine,” she snarled.
    “ Fine ,” he snarled,