Endangered Hearts Read Online Free Page A

I sort of made myself at home. But you weren't anywhere around. I made myself a cup of coffee."
    Jack's unwilling desire for her, and the knowledge that he would be unable to appease that desire, sharpened his voice. He raised his chin. “Would it matter if I did mind?” he growled, dismissing her apology and erecting a wall of irritation between them.
    * * * *
    Abby's brow knit in consternation. His comment was rude, but perhaps he was still a little off-balance because of Beau's stunt. She could understand that since she herself had been the butt of Beau's jokes for years. So she smiled, determined to maintain a civil conversation with him. “No, I guess not. You know, Mr. Cole—Look, do you mind if I call you Jack? I'm afraid that I've never been very good with formality."
    He shrugged, not responding to her friendly overtures. Abby tried again, undeterred. “Beau's been telling me about your mountain, Jack. I must say that I thought that he was exaggerating when he told me how lovely it was. But I can see now that he didn't come close to doing it justice. It's spectacular and..."
    "I'll get you the key to the cabin,” Jack cut in and then turned and walked toward the kitchen doorway.
    "Well!” Abby commented to Bear under her breath after Jack had left the room. “Not exactly the most outgoing guy in the world, is he?” She patted Bear on the head. “But I suppose it takes all kinds, right?” She was determined not to let Mr. Jackson Cole disturb her normally genial nature. She leaned over to whisper in Bear's ear. “He is quite a hunk though, isn't he? Not that I'm interested. But there is something about those eyes of his. Whenever he looks at me...” she shuddered, feeling trickle of moisture between her thighs, “man, oh man."
    Abby was quite surprised at her immediate reaction to Jack Cole. She had always considered herself a somewhat asexual creature. Normally, she could take sex or leave it, and she usually chose to leave it. Now, for some reason, this man sparked something different in her. Something hot. But she dismissed the unwanted attraction. In addition to the fact that she had no clue how to handle a man like Jackson Cole, she didn't need or want a man, especially not right now. No matter how attractive he was. No, the two of them could just stay out of each other's way as much as possible. Beau had said the second cabin was pretty isolated so that shouldn't be very hard to do.
    By the time Jack returned with the key in his hand, Abby had walked across the room and was gazing out the wide window. She turned at the sound of his footsteps on the hardwood floor, and his eyes speared her, sending a little shiver of awareness through her that she tried to ignore. He walked over with the key dangling from his fingers.
    He dropped it into her outstretched palm. “This is the only one I've got so try not to lose it.” Still oozing annoyance, Jack spoke abruptly to Abby. When he turned to the front door, Abby saluted his broad back, but only Bear observed her childish action. Then she scrambled to follow him out the door, stepping onto the porch just as Jack reached his Jeep and climbed in.
    Urging Bear into the Explorer, Abby started the motor and followed the disappearing vehicle. As they moved through the dense woods on an obviously little-used road, they were forced to a snail's pace. The uneven terrain and huge potholes made her glad her SUV had four-wheel drive.
    They arrived a few minutes later at a cabin almost identical to the one they had just left. Jack preceded her inside and began turning on the lights. He gave her a brief tour and explained how the generator worked. When Abby revealed her ignorance in lighting a fire, he demonstrated reluctantly. Even though it was spring, some nights still got cool. Then he rose to his feet and walked out onto the porch. Abby followed.
    He paused and turned to face her. “The mail is delivered at a mailbox down the mountain a bit, and I collect it