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

you.” She put her hands on her hips and gazed at him boldly. “Tanner Donovan, you’re every inch the hellion.”
    “I don’t deny that.” With one step he closed the space between them. “Come here, Mandy, love. This hellion is dying to get into your zipper.”
    Before she could protest, his hands were on her, the left holding her shoulder while the right slowly lowered her zipper. She’d never known that shedding a choir robe could be such a sensuous experience. His fingers trailed the path of the zipper, brushing across her clothes, lingering intimately over her breasts. She felt the heat of his hand through the silk of her blouse.
    She held her breath as the zipper inched downward. He made no move to come closer. He made no attempt to embrace her. The only change was in his eyes. She saw the bright light of passion gleaming in their quicksilver depths.
    Willing herself not to respond, she stood very still as he worked his magic. His left hand continued to hold her shoulder, while the right explored her body behind the widening path of the zipper. She felt a tiny bead of nervous perspiration roll between her breasts as the zipper skimmed below her waist.
    “You used to love this, Mandy.” Her skirt was no protection from the touch of his fingers. Lazily he was drawing those familiar erotic circles that used to drive her wild.
    “Not anymore.” With a supreme effort she controlled her breathing, but there was nothing she could do about the thundering of her heart. She hoped he didn’t hear it in the still of the choir room.
    “You still do. I can tell.”
    She thought his laughter was positively diabolical.
    “You’re a wicked man, Tanner Donovan. I don’t know why I ever fell in love with you.”
    He quickly finished opening her robe and slipped it from her shoulders.
    “I do. If we weren’t in church, I’d show you.”
    “After all these years you’ve developed scruples?”
    “Are you disappointed?”
    “No. Surprised.” She took the robe from his hand and hung it up. “And relieved.”
    “The next time opportunity knocks, we won’t be in a church, Amanda.”
    “Lately I’ve become hard of hearing.”
    “I’ll see that opportunity knocks loud enough for you to hear.” He lifted her suit jacket from the hook and helped her into it. “Soon, my darling. Very soon.”
    For a moment Amanda believed the endearment was real. But only for a moment. Deep down she knew it was only a part of the game.
     o0o
    Maxine and Wilford were waiting for them in the parking lot. “Hurry, kids,” Maxine yelled. “My chariot awaits.” She swept her arm toward her Volkswagen Beetle.
    “Why don’t we take my car?” Amanda suggested. “We’ll be crowded in yours.”
    “That’s the general idea.” Maxine grinned. “Climb in the back, kids. Once I get the old rattletrap going, there won’t be much talking. Who needs to talk, anyhow? It’ll be just like old times.”
    Too much like old times for comfort, Tanner thought as he helped Amanda into the backseat. Everything was getting to be too much like old times—the way Amanda laughed, the way she kissed, the way she felt in his arms. Something inside him was starting to thaw. He didn’t want to feel mellow toward her; he wanted to punish her. In one move she’d destroyed their future together and forever separated him from his best friend.
    He folded himself into the backseat, lifting Amanda onto his lap.
    “Is this necessary?”
    “My legs are too long. The only way we’ll both fit back here is if you sit on top.” He pulled her comfortably into the curve of his arm. “Does it bother you?”
    “No more than it bothers you.”
    As Maxine started up her little Beetle and spun out of the parking lot, he had time to consider just how much holding Amanda did bother him. It felt a lot like being in love, and that wasn’t possible. Not anymore. Not with Amanda.
    Over the rattle of the old car Maxine yelled something to Amanda about the shop, and she