Free White Trash Witch by Franny Armstrong Page A

and a bagel.
Holding them in her arms, she pulled out a beer and used her foot
to close the door.
    When Ryder suddenly appeared from behind the door,
she screamed and dropped her hoard. His quick spell, freezing the
items in place, prevented them from hitting the floor. Scooping the
beer and bagel out of the air, he placed them on the island, and
then went back for the cheese.
    Wiley hadn't moved, frozen in place as she stared at
him, her hand over her heart, breathing rapidly from the fright. He
was naked, but for his blue satin boxers.
    "Hi," he murmured, his tone low and sexy.
    "Oh, ah…hi," she said, still staring at his muscular
chest, arms and legs.
    "Midnight snack?"
    "Ye…Yes. What are you doing here?"
    "I couldn't sleep. You?" he asked. She could tell
that he was trying not to stare at her legs peeking out of her
short t-shirt.
    Shaking her head, she moved to the bagel, and then
looked for a sharp knife.
    Ryder opened a drawer, pulled out a knife, and took
the bagel from her, cutting it neatly in half.
    "Thanks."
    "You're welcome. Your mom tells me that she's going
home in the morning after she sees Dara. She said that she's taking
Lacy with her."
    She swallowed hard at the image that that put in her
mind, and nodded. She'd never been so tongue-tied before when it
came to a man. The two of them would be alone in the house until
Dara was ready to leave the hospital.
    "You will stay here for the rest of your stay in
Toronto, won't you?" he asked, taking her forgotten bagel, and
slathering it with creamed cheese.
    "I…I hadn't thought that far ahead." Her hands shook
as she waited for him to finish, barely noticing the bagel for his
hands.
    "Your mom said that she's making up the downstairs
bedroom at your house for Dara and Lacy, for when Dara's released
from the hospital, so that she can recover at home. She'll have a
nurse come around daily until she isn't needed anymore, and a
physiotherapist."
    "Yes," she said, clearing her throat. She accepted
the bagel Ryder offered her, and took a small bite, getting cream
cheese on the side of her mouth.
    Reaching over, Ryder wiped the cheese away with his
thumb, and then put it to his lips, sucking the cheese off.
    Trying desperately to focus on her stomach, she took
another bite then put the bagel down, while she tried to open her
beer. The cap was stuck. She struggled with it until he gently took
it from her hands, and quickly twisted it in an effortless
move.
    "Thank you," she said, swallowing a swig of beer.
    Ryder opened the fridge, taking out another bagel and
a beer.
    Wiley watched his deft hands as he cut the bread and
put creamed cheese on it, then opened the beer. As he took a long
drink of it, she watched his Adam's Apple bob up and down,
wondering why she'd never noticed another man's throat. It stirred
her awareness of him, causing all kinds of sparks in her veins.
    Through widened eyes Wily studied his gorgeous face,
thick auburn curly hair and intense blue eyes. He was what women
dreamed of, and yet she'd avoided him for weeks. When she looked
into his eyes, she saw the other Ryder, and that confused her.
    She couldn't deny the way her lower belly responded
to him. She couldn't ignore the way her heart raced when he was
near, or the way her breath stilled when he looked deep into her
eyes. She was falling for him, and that had her shaking in her
boots. Wiley wondered if she could entrust her heart to him,
remembering the betrayal of her last relationship, and the pain
she'd felt. She fought her attraction, but knew then that she
couldn't possibly win.
    "Would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow
night?" he asked, taking a bite of his bagel.
    "Ah…dinner?"
    "Sure. I thought it'd be nice to have dinner out for
a change. Maybe Chinese food? Italian? French?"
    "Well, I…ah…I don't…no, I don't think I can," she
said, trembling.
    Cupping her chin in his hand, he looked into her
eyes.
    "We can go as friends. No romantic stuff, okay?" he
said, his eyes