The Bronzed Hawk Read Online Free Page A

on his heels. “But that’s impossible. I can’t be ready to go tonight. Why the change in plans?”
    “Because I feel like it,” O’Brien said. “Didn’t your research cover the fact that all geniuses are eccentric? If you want to go with me, be ready to go at nine.”
    “But I have a dinner engagement,” Kelly saidcrossly. “I just can’t break a date without any warning. Can’t you wait at least until tomorrow?”
    “No, I can’t,” he said crisply, as he turned at the front door to look down at her. “What date is so important that you can’t put it off for this dynamite story that you’re so eager to get? Is it with your editor?”
    “Mac?” Kelly said bewilderedly. “No, it’s Simon Renwick. He’s in the advertising department at
World Weekly
.”
    O’Brien’s lips curved unpleasantly. “You
are
a busy little girl, aren’t you?” he said. “Well, he’ll have to do without your services tonight, Goldilocks. You can either get rid of him before I pick you up, or I’ll take care of it when I get there. I really wouldn’t advise you to leave it up to me, though. I’m feeling a bit savage today.”
    That was more than obvious, Kelly thought. It seemed that geniuses were not only eccentric but downright moody. She couldn’t imagine what had put O’Brien in such a temper, but he looked as fierce as one of his Aztec ancestors,and she didn’t want to stick around and be a pagan sacrifice to that wrath.
    “Okay,” she agreed, then sighed. “I’ll be ready at nine.” She gave him her street address and apartment number.
    “Good,” he said tersely, opening the door for her. “I’d advise you to wear something a bit more practical than that outfit you have on. It may be May, but it can get quite cool in a balloon.”
    “I do have a little common sense. May I suggest that you follow your own advice? I’d say you’re far less practically dressed than I!” She gazed pointedly at the white towel draped carelessly about his hips. “Or perhaps all that yoga has trained you to control your body temperature.”
    He grinned, his blue eyes dancing and his bad temper suddenly banished by amusement. “Actually, that was one of the first things I learned when I studied with the Buddhist monks in Tibet two years ago,” he replied blandly. “Didn’t my dossier delve into those six months, sweetheart? Right now I’m working on controllingthe flow of blood to the organs without the benefit of the heart pumping it.”
    “You mean you’re trying to stop your heart from beating?” she asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
    “Only temporarily. It will probably take years for me to reach anywhere near the competence of the monks. A master can totally cease his heartbeat for more than thirty minutes.”
    “That’s wonderful,” Kelly said faintly. “I don’t quite see why you would want to stop your heart from beating, but I’m sure you’ll succeed if you persevere.”
    O’Brien smiled, his white teeth flashing brilliantly in his dark face. “It’s the challenge, love. It’s a key to be found and a puzzle to be solved.” He pushed her out the door with a gentle swat on her derriere. “Nine o’clock,” he reminded her, then shut the door firmly in her face.

T WO
    O H , L ORD, WHY did things like this always happen to her? Kelly wondered gloomily, as she watched Simon Renwick and Paul Lautner square off. She had always known that Simon was a bit on the macho side, but who would have believed that slight, bespectacled Paul would display this ferocity?
    “Look, it’s all very simple,” Kelly said soothingly, as she stepped between the two men. “I just got a little confused on my appointments and made two dates for the same night. I’m sorry that it happened, but there’s not much I can do about it, and—”
    “No one’s blaming you for the mix-up, doll,” Simon growled, his eyes on Paul’s angry face. “You just leave it to us to sort it out. Why don’t you get your jacket