Sweet Heat Read Online Free PDF

Useful muscle. His chest was broad and she could even see the faint outline of a six-pack through the shirt. Or, at least a four-pack above the counter. She was just assuming the rest was there. And the man smelled incredible. Like, unfairly good. Like oranges and cloves and smoke all mixed together.
    “Suzanne.”
    She jerked her eyes back up to his face, feeling the blood heat her cheeks as he caught her looking again. Despite her dark skin, blushes showed up remarkably well.
    “Brandon.” Her voice came out breathier than she’d intended. Behind her, she heard Marcel snicker.
    She shot a narrow-eyed look over her shoulder and he held up his hands, zipping his lips.
    Apparently, he’d finished paying his bill, because Christine faded back to her desk with a wink.
    “Do you work here, Suzanne?” He cocked his head to the side, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. She liked the way he said her name. It made her heart turn over in her chest.
    She shook her head, her curls swaying with the motion. “Nope. Just wandered in off the street.”
    He laughed, his cheeks creasing. The sound rolled through the room like thunder. “Ah, thanks for that, Suzanne. I was having a very bad morning, and I needed that badly.”
    At her desk, Christine whispered, “Oh, Jesus, that’s just unfair .”
    Suzanne agreed. Her knees felt weak. That had never happened to her before. She gripped the edge of the counter.
    Brandon folded his arms on the counter and leaned slightly forward, wafting more of that orange and clove scent toward her. She didn’t know what possessed her to touch him. Maybe it was the faint flicker of sadness in his blue eyes. Whatever it was, she brushed her fingertips over the top of his arm. His skin was warm, the hair fine and silky, and despite his pale coloring, his skin wasn’t pasty. It was tanned the color of tea with milk.
    His big grin shrank for a moment as he looked down at where she touched his arm. Then he lifted his gaze and it grew even wider. He leaned in even closer.
    Suzanne realized the faint smoke smell was his skin. She resisted the urge to take a deep whiff.
    Brandon looked directly into her eyes. “I think we’re going to have a good time on our date, Suzanne.”
    She pulled back, her heart rattling against her ribs. Her lungs tightened and she felt a giggle well in the back of her throat. She swallowed it. “We’re going on a date?” Her voice trembled. What was wrong with her? She was usually much more cool than this. Brandon had practically turned her into a giggling schoolgirl.
    “We’re definitely going on a date.” Brandon spoke the words quietly. His tone was cocky, but also intimate.
    She shivered and pulled back. The skittering of her heart was suddenly edging toward panic. His presence was so overwhelming.
    What was she thinking? She was a young, professional black woman. She needed to be concentrating on her career and behaving with decorum in the workplace, not flirting with some cocky white boy, no matter how good-looking.
    And hadn’t she just gone on a date with another man last night? Should she be flirting with Brandon at all?
    Suzanne knew that voice in her head saying all those things was her mother’s. Deeper down, she could hear her grandmother’s voice urging her to go for it. But she didn’t. Instead, she smiled through the fierce blush and shook her head.
    “I don’t think so, Brandon. I’m sorry but…” What was she going to say? You overwhelm me? “I just don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re a customer, and I’m… very busy.” She was scrambling, and she knew he could tell.
    His grin didn’t waver in the least, though. He wasn’t pissed off or insulted. He didn’t even look daunted.
    “I thought you said you didn’t work here?” He cocked one slim blond brow, his blue eyes dancing.
    “I… uh…” Her mouth just sort of hung open. She giggled.
    Brandon winked. “That’s okay, Suzanne. I’ll change your mind. You’ll