Love Songs Read Online Free Page A

nothing to offer me that I don’t already have.”
    “Which brings me to my original question. Why do you have insomnia?”
    “Insomnia has nothing to do with marriage,” she asserted boldly.
    “No, but if your life is as perfect as you seem to feel, you shouldn’t have insomnia. What causes it?”
    Exasperated once more, Alanna sighed. “If I knew the answer to that I wouldn’t be here right now. In fact, I’m not quite sure why I am sitting here listening to you!”
    “You’re listening to me,” Alex informed her without a second’s pause, “because I challenge you. Because I don’t ‘yes’ you all over the place, as I’m sure most of the men you’re used to dealing with do. Because I dare to question you. Because I interest you.”
    He was right. She could simply have stood and excused herself when he arrived at her table, and certainly immediately after he popped his half-baked notion that she would one day be his wife. Yet he did interest her … and he was obviously interested in her. With a quivering in her limbs that she would have liked to attribute to fatigue but could not, Alanna knew she had to leave. Standing quickly, she shouldered her purse and reached for her glasses, slipping them deftly onto her face.
    “I really must go, Alex. I have an appointment.” She glanced at her watch and saw, to her horror, that she’d been a full forty-five minutes in the cafeteria. “Oh, no, she’ll be waiting.”
    “She’ll find something to keep her busy,” Alex drawled. He, too, had risen and made to escort her. “I presume you are talking about Ellen Henderson?”
    Alanna was too aware of Alex’s closeness to react naturally to this knowledge of her. Quickening her step, she nodded. “That’s right.”
    “Then I’m very happy that Ellen is a she. I’m not sure I’d enjoy having you pour your heart out to a him. Unless it was me, of course. I tend to be the jealous type.”
    As they reached the door of the cafeteria Alanna turned to face him. “Alex, it was nice meeting you, but I really have no time to continue the game. My life is filled to bursting as it is. I hope that you can simply put this weird compulsion of yours out of your mind. We’d both be healthier.”
    “Would we?” Taking her arm, he guided her in the direction of the elevator, holding her gently but firmly until the car arrived, entering with her and pushing the button for the proper floor. As fate would have it there were, again, no other passengers. After the door blocked out the rest of the world he looked down at her. “I think you’re wrong. This is the healthiest thing I’ve done in years.”
    Without a further word he drew her to him, his hands grasping her arms, his head lowering. She hadn’t expected such suddenness. Stunned, she had no time to muster a protest before his lips touched hers. They were warm and gentle, as teasing as his nature. She stood perfectly still, refusing to yield to the pressure as it increased, yet unable to pull away. When teasing turned to seduction she struggled harder to remain indifferent. For, as with everything else about this man, his kiss, too, was different. His lips were vibrant, smoothly awakening her long-dormant senses. The warmth that began in her toes inched slowly upward, slowly and with growing heat as it made its way through her limbs. Her fingers itched to touch, her lips to respond. But his arrogance stayed her; she would no more give in to his cocksure demand than she would agree to his absurd marriage declaration. In the next instant, however, he slyly altered the ground rules.
    “Bet you can’t do it,” he drawled softly against her lips.
    “Do what?” she whispered, tipping her head back to study him.
    “Kiss me with everything you’ve got … then turn and walk away.”
    Alanna felt abruptly light-headed. She loved a challenge and this was the perfect out. She could maintain her dignity and meet his dare, all the while giving in to the very tempting