Sleepless Nights (The Donovans of the Delta) Read Online Free PDF Page A

letting his hand linger on the nape of her neck. “You did know how to dress in a hurry, Amanda.”
    She felt a quick rush of heat through her body. If she didn’t get away from him soon, she’d be doing things in the back of the church that would be fodder for another Donovan-Lassiter legend. Striving to get herself in the proper frame of mind, she stepped back.
    “Unhand me, unless you plan to follow me to the front and sing soprano.”
    “No. I prefer to sit behind you, so I can enjoy the view.”
    She couldn’t think of a feisty comeback; her mind was too busy cataloging the wicked charms of Tanner Donovan. Fortunately the line began to move and she was forced to hurry into place with the sopranos. Otherwise she might have done something that would make even the most liberal-minded Southerners blush.
    As she hurried forward she wondered what in the devil Tanner was doing there in a choir robe, and whether he actually intended to sing. She wouldn’t put anything past him. Especially after the previous night. He had a magnificent voice, but he hadn’t been in town long enough to attend a single practice. He had probably come only to sit back there and aggravate her.
    Amanda slid into her seat, acutely aware of the moment Tanner sat down directly behind her. As the organ prelude swelled, filling the church with magnificent sound, she knew she was supposed to be thinking exalted thoughts, but the only thing that came to her mind was body heat. Tanner’s body heat. It reached out and seared her.
    She was playing a dangerous game with Tanner Donovan, a game that might have no winners. But Fate had dealt the cards, and she would play the hand. Win, lose, or draw, she was in the game for the duration. With that last irreverent thought she turned her attention back to the service. She was here to sing, and nothing would stop her. Not even Tanner Donovan.
    Determination always brought out the best in Amanda. From the moment the music started, she was in fine voice. Even when Tanner’s rich baritone voice joined in, hers never faltered. The goose bumps popped up on her arm, as they always had when he sang, but she ignored them. For an instant she wondered how he’d ever learned the cantata, but she didn’t have time to ponder that. Fleetingly she noticed how well their voices blended, but she didn’t have time to think about that, either. Nothing would mar her singing.
    She lifted her voice with renewed determination, making the beautiful old Gothic church ring with glorious music.
    When it was all over, the congregation flocked to the front to congratulate the choir.
    “That was wonderful, Amanda.” Maxine managed to hem her in behind the altar rail with Tanner. “You two perform so well together.” Wilford, who was standing as close to Maxine as he thought prudent in church, nodded his agreement.
    “I always thought so.” Tanner moved in close and put his hand on Amanda’s shoulder. To the innocent bystander the gesture was completely harmless. Only she knew that he had his thigh pressing against the back of her choir robe. Nor did she miss the double meaning of his words. She’d lay bets that he wasn’t talking about singing.
    Over her shoulder she shot him a look that would have made a lesser man quail. Tanner winked at her.
    Maxine’s next words only encouraged him. “The two of you should perform together more often.”
    “Those are my intentions,” Tanner said.
    “Over my dead body.” Amanda considered murder with a hymnal right there in the church.
    Maxine was in her element. She loved controversy, especially when she was right in the middle of it. “I have the most wonderful idea. Wilford and I always go to Jimmy’s for coffee after church. Why don’t you two join us?”
    “Great, we’d love to. Jimmy’s is one of our favorite places,” Tanner said.
    “No, thank you,” Amanda said at the same time, but nobody paid any attention.
    “Good. Then it’s settled. We’ll wait for you to shuck