Up In Flames Read Online Free

She’d anxiously looked forward to her next meeting with Adam Stone, anxiously practiced all the things she’d say to him, how she’d put him in his place.
    How she’d make him see her as more than a pawn.
    Only he was gone by then, moved away after his father’s death. And she’d forever felt cheated of her big moment.
    She’d never forgotten him; she doubted she ever would. Other than her parents, he’d had more influence in her life than any other person.
    Damn him, she would not let him do this to her again! She was a mature businesswoman, and she’d behave as such, no matter his provocation.
    With her hands fisted in her ruined skirts, she forced a calm tone and said, “I was trying to be cordial, Adam, considering you played the gallant and rescued me.”
    He scowled. “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “You dove in after me,” she reminded him. “You didn’t have to do that, all things considered. The least I can do now is try to be nice.”
    He stared, his expression stunned. “Nice?” Then he laughed and dropped his head onto the sand with a groan. He was silent a moment before muttering, “Well, what do you know. You owe me.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “Didn’t you? It’s appropriate, don’t you think? My clothes are ruined, and it’s for certain I’ve missed my damned meeting.” He cocked an eye open to look at her. “All because I jumped in to save you.”
    “Don’t curse.”
    Coming up on one elbow, he growled, “I’ll damn well curse if I want to! You have no idea what missing that meeting means.”
    She leaned back, away from the force of his anger. Subdued just a bit, she said, “So tell me.”
    He glared at her, then turned his head away. After a second, he plopped back on the sand. “Forget it.”
    She shrugged, but since he wasn’t watching her, he didn’t see it. Guilt gnawed at her. “I suppose I do owe you. A little.”
    “A lot. ”
    She sighed. “Very well. I owe you a lot. How much money will you be out because of our...misfortune?”
    His gaze turned lethal, and the words were little more than a whisper. “You’re not going to offer me money, are you, sweetheart?”
    “But you said I owed you.”
    “You owe me gratitude, that’s all. I don’t want your damn money.”
    “Oh.” The money would have been so much easier.
    He shifted, putting one arm behind his head, watching her, a half smile on his sensuous mouth. “Okay, Mel, since we’re agreed, have at it.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Go ahead and make me comfortable. That was your original intent, right? I await your efforts.”
    He said it like a dare, and her temper pricked. She would not let him, or any other man, intimidate her ever again. So what that he was more muscled now, that maturity made him even more masculine, more sexy? His blond hair was streaked from hours in the sun; his eyes were dark gold. He looked incredible, while she knew she looked a wreck.
    It was bad enough that he’d spotted her in the casual outfit she’d chosen for the boat. Her halter and loose, lingerie-style shorts were made of the same silky material, and covered by the long, thin skirts, but she’d still felt too physically exposed to face him. The cabin had been too crowded to hide in, and then she’d realized she didn’t want to hide from him. Not ever again. But she thought he’d be too involved with the women swarming him to notice her.
    She’d obviously been wrong.
    Now, after her ordeal, she looked wretched. She could feel her eye makeup smeared on her cheeks, knew her short hair stuck out at all angles. She’d lost even more weight over the years; while he was thick with muscle, she was lacking the lush curves men seemed to admire, and in her outfit, there was no way to disguise her figure.
    But she couldn’t change any of that, so she’d simply have to make the best of an awkward, unimaginable situation.
    Mustering her courage, she again reached for his bag. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be