The Marrying Man Read Online Free Page B

dinner.
    "Enjoy your turkey," he said. Not a great exit line, but serviceable. Turning, he started down the porch steps.
    "Cranberries!"
    He stopped. "What?"
    She made a funny little clutching motion with the towel, one that made the shadowy valley between her breasts look even more intriguing. He wondered if she had any idea what effect she was having on his libido. Probably not. If she did, he had no doubt she'd bolt the door and bar the windows.
    She looked up at him and offered him a very female smile. He'd already realized she wasn't flirtatious by nature, so the smile carried considerable punch. "Are you in a hurry to get to Boston?"
    "Why?"
    "I--uh, Jenny forgot her wallet."
    "You said something about cranberries."
    "Cranberries?" Her eyes went wide and innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm worried about Jenny."
    "Jenny?"
    "My housekeeper. What if the police stop her and she doesn't have her driver's license? She'll end up in jail."
    "Last I heard they don't put you in jail for forgetting your license."
    "I don't need a lecture, Mr. McKendrick. I need a lift to the mini-mart. If it's too much trouble, just tell me."
    "Your housekeeper's at the mini-mart?"
    "Well, actually she's at the Wassersteins' pilgrim party but--"
    "So why not call the Wassermans?"
    "Wassersteins and that's impossible. Dianne always takes them to the park over by the lake and--"
    "Don't explain," he said. "Whatever you do, don't explain."
    "You'll drive me?"
    "Let's go," he said.
    "I can't go like this."
    "I don't mind if you don't."
    "Believe it or not, I don't usually go to the store in my bath towel."
    He leaned against the porch railing and crossed his arms over his chest. "Make it fast."
    She swung open the door the rest of the way. "You don't have to wait out there."
    Don't do it, McKendrick. Step through that door and it's all over. Every instinct he had for self-preservation was screaming for him to put as much distance between himself and Cat Zaslow as he possibly could. But damn it, she was naked under that bright yellow bath towel and there were only so many things a red-blooded man could resist.
    The way her skin took the light. The way she'd taste sweet and fresh. For a moment they stood close enough that he could smell the scent of soap on her smooth skin and he imagined having her on the floor...right next to the scruffy Barney doll with the grinning purple face.
    "Get dressed." He sounded like he was growling. "I want to get back on the road." Or take a cold shower.
    "There's coffee in the kitchen," she said over her shoulder as she started up the stairs, her long legs sleek and bare and inviting. "Help yourself."
    Tempting , he thought as she disappeared from view. Very tempting .

    ***

    He drove a sleek black sportscar, the kind of car married men dreamed about. Low, powerful, terminally sexy. No wife worth her salt would let her man drive around in a lethal weapon like this.
    It put Cat in a bad mood the moment she fastened her seat belt.
    "What's the matter?" he asked as they roared off toward the Danville Mini Mart. "Forget the turkey?"
    "Very funny." He didn't know how close he was to the truth. "I was just thinking that this is the kind of car my son Kevin would call a babe magnet."
    "I'll let you know," he said. "I just picked it up yesterday."
    "New car?"
    "It's rented."
    "What kind of car do you own?"
    "I don't." He shot her a sidelong glance. Wouldn't you know harsh sunlight would be kind to him. Was there no justice in this world?
    She swiveled around in her chair to face him. "You don't own a car?"
    "Nope."
    "Why? Is it some kind of efficiency thing?"
    "You could say that."
    "I'm curious," she persisted. "The only people I know who don't own cars live in Manhattan and you don't live in Manhattan, do you?"
    "Max was right," McKendrick said. "You do ask a hell of a lot of questions."
    "Then you won't take this personally. Where do you live?"
    He rolled to a stop and turned to look at her.