Steele Read Online Free PDF Page A

had flown and now Marla looked forward to seeing Steele once more.
    She made her way to the cafeteria with the rest of her team, ignoring the flickering of the lights as she entered the room and grabbing a tray of lunch, realizing that she was quite famished. She turned, bumping into someone’s chest, and was jolted out of her musings. “Sorry,” she said, and raised her eyes to meet Steele’s cool gray gaze.
    He smiled gently. “It’s all right. How have you been faring?”
    “So far, so good.” She led them to a vacant table and they sat opposite each other. “They’ve done quite a few small tests so far. Just hooking me up to machines and covering me with electrodes, stuff like that.”
    “Ugh. I hate the electrode cream they use,” Steele said.
    Marla chuckled. “Me too.”
    They ate their lunches in a companionable silence for several minutes.
    Marla almost hated to break the soothing silence. “So what do you do here? I’ve been told that you live here in the compound.”
    Steele nodded. “You’ve asked about me?”
    Marla blushed.
    A small smile played at the corner of Steele’s mouth. “I’ve lived here since I was thirteen. I like it here. It’s safe for a person like me.”
    “What about your parents?”
    Steele’s smile disappeared. “My mom died giving birth to me and my father…well, let’s just say I don’t miss him much.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry,” she apologized.
    “Don’t worry about it. What about you? How are your parents faring after these new developments?”
    “My mom is all I have, and she’s nothing but supportive of me. She and I don’t talk much about my new quirks, but we both know they’re there. Without her help I never would have made it out of the hospital.”
    “I understand that your coma lasted a year,” he said.
    “Yeah, it was a long time. I lost most of my motor skills and had to relearn how to walk. It was hard work, but I had very determined physical therapists and they assured me I was recovering with great speed.”
    “How did you end up in the coma?” Steele asked.
    Marla blushed. “I was putting a lightbulb into the ceiling fan at my house and I fell. It’s not glamorous but there it is. I don’t remember much. For me, no time passed from that fall—heck, I hardly remember the fall itself—to when I woke up in the hospital over a year later.”
    “That sounds frightening,” he said.
    “Only if I think about it.” She shrugged with a grimace.
    Her eyes drank in the sight of his delectable mouth as it twisted into a wry grin. “This place can help you heal,” he said.
    “I’m starting to believe you’re right about that.” She couldn’t help a rush of desire as his beautiful eyes roved over her face, searching out the truth of her statement.
    He cleared his throat and looked away, almost guiltily. “Uh, are you doing anything tonight?” he asked.
    Marla’s heart beat double time. “No.”
    “Would you like to have dinner with me?”
    “I’d love it.” She would.
    Steele rose, grabbing his now empty tray. “If you’ll still be here around six, I can come fetch you and take you back to my apartment. I’ll make a meal you’ll never forget.”
    Marla grinned. “That sounds lovely.”
    Steele nodded and turned, leaving her there.
    She focused on her lunch, mind in a quandary as she thought back over the day’s events. Between each thought was an image of Steele, taking her off guard. He was certainly handsome enough for her to daydream about, but she was far too old for such frivolous musings. She tried valiantly to push him away and concentrate instead on what lay ahead of her in the lab.
    Johnny Vicious plopped down into Steele’s vacated seat a few minutes later. “Hey there,” he said.
    Marla started and dropped her fork. Before it could land, Vicious’ hand struck out—so fast she couldn’t follow the movement with her eyes—and caught it neatly. She smiled at him, amazed at his speed. “Hey