Until He Met Meg Read Online Free PDF Page A

had lengthened between them.
    ‘I’m afraid not,’ Meg answered. ‘If you don’t mind I’ll try again in a few minutes.’
    ‘And if she’s still not home?’
    If it made any sense at all, Meg would have sworn he sounded angry. ‘I suppose I’ll call another taxi.’
    ‘And use your last dollar getting home,’ he concluded gruffly.
    With astonishment Meg realised he was angry. She whirled on him. ‘So? What’s that to you?’
    ‘You should have let me pay for your trip home when I offered.’
    ‘I’m sorry my aversion to taking charity from strangers has inconvenienced you.’
    ‘You’re not inconveniencing me.’ His jaw set in a way that belied his statement. ‘I simply think your pride has gotten in the way of your common sense.’
    ‘And I’m obviously in your way,’ Meg deduced. ‘I suppose I’ll call another cab right now and get it over with.’
    As she reached for the phone Bryce’s hand came forward to stop her. His touch warmed her chilled skin in a way she found far too pleasurable. Yet short of assaulting him she could do nothing to escape the contact. She stood and felt the waves of heat purl through her as she stared up into his scowling face.
    ‘You’re still freezing,’ he noted after a long moment that crackled with an unsettling awareness. His voice seemed to have dropped an octave. ‘Why did you take off my jacket?’
    Meg had to swallow before she could respond. Still, her voice sounded scratchy to her ears. ‘I could hardly keep it, could I?’
    He stared at her a long time, his dark eyes studying each curve of her face. His perusal was intense, yet not entirely flattering. Meg felt as though her features were being catalogued, rather than admired. Annoyance rose swiftly, blessedly providing strength when it was needed. ‘Find anything interesting?’ she inquired, echoing his words of before.
    His scowl deepened, became a glower. ‘I’m sure you’re aware of how attractive you are.’ He released her arm and abruptly turned away. ‘I’ll start a fire.’
    Oh, she was aware of how attractive she was all right. Passably so on a good day, in her opinion. A little short of that in his, apparently. Meg tried not to be stung by his dismissive attitude, focusing instead on his actions as he struck a long match to the kindling already in the hearth. Flames licked the wood, sending amber light into the otherwise sombre room, creating instant sunshine.
    He glanced at her and indicated the chair closest to the fire. ‘Sit down would you? I’ll get you something to drink.’
    His bossy tone abraded her rebellious side, well honed from years of fighting similar officiousness from her father. But the heat emanating from the fireplace was too tempting an invitation to refuse for the sake of defiance. Meg sank into the chair and held her hands gratefully toward the flames, sighing as the heat began to penetrate her body.
    A moment later Bryce proffered a tumbler of honey-coloured liquor. Meg took it from him and sniffed the contents, guessing it was brandy. She swallowed a mouthful and promptly gagged as the potent fluid hit her throat. ‘What is this stuff?’ she rasped.
    ‘This “stuff” is twenty-year-old cognac.’
    ‘Crikey. Didn’t you have any new booze?’ The look of horror on his face was worth him thinking she was an ill-bred hick. She let out a giggle as she took another swig of the alcohol. ‘I had you there, didn’t I?’
    His lips twisted, fighting with his bad mood. Eventually his amusement won and Meg was rewarded for her goofiness with his slow, breathtaking smile and the appearance of that surprising dimple. ‘You have a way of keeping a man on his toes, Meg Lacy. I have to say it’s as delightful as it is bothersome.’
    Meg fought her own inner battle with her emotions. She tried to focus on the ‘bothersome’ comment and get annoyed but the delightful part kept getting in the way. Her heart picked up pace, pushing her liquor-fuelled blood around