Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice Read Online Free Page A

clouds beginning to roll in. She hoped Scott and Erin wouldn't stay out on the water long.
       "Why didn't you go with them, then?"
       Certainly not in hopes of having his company. "Because they're both good sailors, and they clearly wanted to be alone together. I knew I'd be in the way. That's why I brought a book." She held it up for his inspection, hoping he would take the hint and leave.
       He barely glanced at the book, preferring to keep his eyes on her. "Why did you come, then?"
       She wondered if all visitors to the house were subjected to this kind of inquisition or whether she was just lucky. "Because smart women don't go alone to the house of a man they barely know."
       "You don't trust Scott?"
       "Erin doesn't know Scott well enough to know whether she can trust him."
       He frowned. "Don't you think you're being a little over-suspicious?"
       Cassie couldn't suppress a smile at the protected world he clearly lived in. "Well, I don't suppose you've ever been in the position of being afraid of a woman forcing herself on you." She looked over his tall form appraisingly from head to toe.
       His eyes showed a flash of amusement. "You might be surprised," he said with a certain self-deprecating humor. "But you don't have to worry about Scott."
       "I'm glad to hear that." Not that she was willing to take his word on it. "Erin's last boyfriend put her in the hospital. That's why she's here for the summer. He kept violating the restraining order."
       "I'm sorry." It could have been perfunctory, but it sounded like he meant it. "Have you known Erin long?"
       "Since freshman year of college."
       "An old friend, then."
       "Yes." She looked out at the water again. She couldn't pick out Scott's sailboat anymore from the others crossing the Sound. "She's pretty fragile right now."
       "Scott isn't going to hurt her." His quiet words
    surprised her. She hadn't expected him to understand her concern.
       "I hope not. Erin trusts people too easily." But that was starting to change.
       He didn't seem to feel the need to respond, making Cassie remember who she was talking to. This wasn't another scientist; this was Calder Westing, who she couldn't begin to understand. Once again she had decided he was cold and haughty, only to have a thoughtful man with quiet wit emerge. Of course, she knew from last time that the aloof Calder was only a heartbeat away, ready to put her back in her place. She wasn't going to be drawn in this time.
       Besides, she was crazy if she thought Calder Westing was someone she could ever be friends with. She shouldn't be talking to him this way. "It looks like it might rain soon. If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to take a swim while the sun's still out."
       He gave her a quick look but said nothing, so she walked down to the pier. When she reached the end, she stripped off her clothes, revealing a modest one-piece bathing suit.
       Calder watched from the shadows of the porch, taking in the curves of her body as she neatly folded her clothes and set them on the dock. There was something about Cassie Boulton that made him want to know what was underneath her no-nonsense exterior and quick wit—not to mention what was underneath her swimsuit. His eyes remained fixed on her as she dove efficiently into the water.
       No, all in all he was finding her far too interesting, and that wouldn't do. Deliberately, he forced himself to

    look away from where she was frolicking in the water and went back to his tidy study.

    "Mind if I join you?" Rob stood across the cafeteria table from Cassie, tray in hand.
       Cassie's relaxed mood evaporated. She had managed to avoid conversations with Rob so far by staying out of Jim's lab, but it looked like her luck had run out. "If you want to."
       "Thanks." Rob sat down and placed his tray on the table. "I hear you're collaborating with Jim on a paper."
       "That's right." Cassie took a