Wish of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

try.”
    “Yeah. Okay,” Macie agreed. “I tried Franklin and Maple, streets where we grew up.”
    “Did you try them both together?”
    Macie typed carefully, first one combination then the other. She shook her head. “I tried Muffy, our cat, and Toodles, the dog.”
    “You named your dog Toodles?” Rylan cracked a smile.
    “Toy poodle.” Macie loved that dog so, from her soft curling fur to the affectionate licks she dispensed.
    “What kind of cat?” Rylan asked.
    “What kind?” Macie thought back. “Muffy was a Siamese cat. A black one.”
    Rylan jotted down combinations of the animals’ names and breeds, and Macie entered them without any response from the computer beyond the wrong password message.
    “Childhood friends?” Rylan suggested.
    “That’s an endless list.” Macie took the pen and wrote down a half dozen names.
    “Schools? Cars?” Rylan grasped for any idea.
    Macie added more entries to the paper and tossed the pen down. She tried various combinations without success. Macie added words and tested them for over an hour before slapping her hand on the table.
    “Aaarggh. This is so frustrating. It could be anything. It could be completely random.” Macie stood and paced the room.
    “Hey, it’s okay. Just relax. We haven’t been at this that long.” Rylan reached for her shoulder but let his hand drop away without touching her
    “We shared a lot but we never shared stuff like this. Why would we? I never needed to know her computer password.” Macie tried to tamp down her frustration. It wasn’t helping that Rylan was so close. When he leaned over her, she smelled the soap on his skin. She felt the heat radiating off of him. She refused to acknowledge the tingle of awareness that sensitized her skin.
    Rylan sat on the arm of the sofa. “Tell me about the cat.”
    “You’re trying to distract me.” Macie stretched her neck from side to side.
    “Yeah. Still. Tell me about the cat,” Rylan persisted. He flipped on the side table lamp.
    “Muffy? Sleek and black as night. Her fur was smooth and silky. I loved to pet her. She was so regal. Those eyes. She looked at you with disdain. She was like a queen. In fact … wait a minute.” Macie hastened toward the table.
    “What?” Rylan jerked to his feet.
    “Her name wasn’t Muffy. It was something else. Karen called her something else but we shortened it.” Macie sat, her fingers poised over the keyboard.
    “The cat was Karen’s?” Rylan moved to look over Macie’s shoulder.
    “Yeah, more than it was mine. She chose a cat. I chose a dog.” Macie rubbed her temples. “Muffington. That was it. Muffington the Third.” Macie entered a few combinations and whooped when the screen revealed the desktop.
    “What was it?” Rylan asked.
    “Muffington3.” Macie jumped out of the chair, bouncing with excitement. She threw her arms around Rylan.
    Rylan caught Macie and kissed her. Her breasts flattened against his chest as her lips parted, allowing his tongue to slide inside. His palms gripped her round bottom and pulled her closer. An unnerving sizzle settled in her belly.
    Macie shivered, her whole body vibrating with pleasure. Suddenly, Rylan’s arms released her and an embarrassed flush colored her skin.
    “I—” Macie bit her lip.
    Rylan held up a finger. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m sorry that got of hand. We were both excited. About the computer, I mean.”
    “Yes. Right.” Macie couldn’t meet his eyes.
    Rylan took a step back. “We should look at what’s on the machine.”
    Macie scanned the desktop and started opening files. She cursed her body’s betrayal. Why did it have to be him? She wasn’t appreciating fate’s cruel joke.
    Rylan touched Macie’s arm. “I don’t think Karen would be mad.”
    “What? What do you mean?” Macie wanted to pretend she didn’t know what he alluded to. It was more comfortable—much more comfortable than admitting to the sexual chemistry between them.
    “About