That Carolina Summer (North Carolina) Read Online Free

this.
    “Yes,” Annette nodded, but kept her face averted as she shifted her legs under her as if to rise, then paused to brush away the grains of sand clinging to her bare arms and legs. Satisfaction warmed her blood at the sound of his approaching footsteps in the sand.
    “Let me give you a hand up.” A large sun-browned hand was extended to her.
    She looked at it, then glanced hesitantly at his shrewdly inspecting gaze before she tentatively placed her hand in his grip. “It's embarrassing,” Annette murmured as he helped her to her feet, conscious of his strength. He wasn't going to be easy to fool.
    “What is?” he inquired.
    “Falling down,” she explained with a crooked smile of chagrin. “Nobody can do it gracefully, and you always feel like a stumbling fool.” The pretense of candor was a direct gambit to throw him off track. Annette knew she had succeeded when she saw the amused indulgence in his expression. He released her hand but didn't let go of her, shifting his grip to support her elbow.
    “It happens to all of us at one time or another,” he assured her, then suggested, “Why don't you test that ankle?"
    She took a tentative step, deliberately favoring it. “It's a little tender, but I can walk it off.” Annette wasn't about to pretend it was anything more than a simple turn. As she stood so close to him, his body heat was giving off a beady male odor that stimulated her senses, which were already overly alert to his presence. Her side-glance caught his watchful look, a degree of suspicion lingering.
    “It's bound to be weak. I wouldn't run on it this morning,” he advised.
    “No, I don't suppose I should,” she sighed the agreement. Since she no longer needed his support, his hand fell away. “Thanks for stopping—” Annette paused and looked at him expectantly to see if he would supply his name.
    “Josh,” he filled in her apparent blank.
    “Annette,” she identified herself, and reached out to seal the introduction with a handshake. When she didn't immediately withdraw her hand from the warm clasp of his fingers, Josh continued to hold it loosely. She wished there was something she could do to erase that glint of amusement from his eyes, but for the time being she had to let it remain. “Thanks, Josh."
    “My pleasure.” His smile was brief.
    Drawing her hand back, she took a deep breath, which stretched the knit material of her tank top across the jutting curves of her breasts. The action attracted his attention. A flicker of annoyance appeared briefly in his eyes. Annette wanted to laugh, because she knew he regarded her as a mere child and felt guilty for looking at her “budding” femininity. His gaze ran sharply back to her face, as if he guessed she had deliberately attracted his notice.
    “Can I buy you some orange juice or a cup of coffee?” Annette offered. For a split second she thought he was going to refuse.
    “Coffee sounds good. I haven't had my morning cup yet,” Josh accepted, and untied the sleeves of his sweat shirt. She was almost sorry when he pulled it over his head to put it on. It seemed a sin to cover up such a virile chest.
    Her expression must have betrayed part of her thoughts, because he tipped his head to one side. “Is something wrong?"
    Annette started to deny it, then let a precocious smile touch her mouth. “I was just thinking this is the first time I've seen you with a shirt on."
    Just for an instant he looked irritated, then he chuckled in his throat. “It is, isn't it?” He spread his fingers between her shoulder blades to push her forward. “I take it that you are staying here at the hotel?"
    “Yes.” She moved in the direction of the bathhouses, where there was a walkway leading around the tall fence that screened the swimming pool from the beach. “Are you staying at the hotel, too?” she asked, as if she didn't already know.
    “Yes.” But Josh Lord failed to mention his status as owner of the resort. “I believe they'll