Free Connelly's Flame by Aliyah Burke Page A

Lateef warned.
    “Me?” she cried. “How come I am the one who is going to have to watch their tongue?” Laughter
    filled the line. “I know, because I am the temperamental one. Okay, Lateef, I will call him in the morning.
    Thanks, man.”
    “You know I love you, Darling,” he said.
    “I love you too, Lateef. Are you going to be at the show?” she wondered.
    “I haven’t missed one yet. And I don’t plan on starting.”
    “Then I will see you there.” She paused and added. “I miss you. Take care.”
    “Always do, Darling, always do. Love you.” Then he was gone.
    “Love you, too,” she whispered to the dial tone and hung up.

    Jeb did a perimeter check of her house and shop. The motions he went through were instinctive for
    him. Whoever had been watching them was no longer there. He was sure about that. He still didn’t like the
    situation.
    When he walked back into her house he heard her talking to someone on the phone. The thought of
    her marrying anyone made him sick. He was the one for her just like she was the one for him.
    Her affection for the man on the other end was obvious and it ate at his gut. Even though he knew he
    had no claim over this woman, for he didn’t even know if he was married. None of that mattered; he wanted
    her, and for longer than one night. Much, much longer than that.
    Sitting down in a chair, he waited for her to finish her call. His eyes roamed freely over her body as
    she lay on the couch, snuggled up to a stuffed Corvette and covered by a blanket. He watched as her
    enthusiasm grew at the discussion of a new car for her to work on.
    He stayed silent until she hung up the phone and put her profound gaze on him. “Friend of yours?”
    he asked his fingers touched in front of his firm mouth.
    Stretching back on the couch, Dezarae smiled, “Yes. Lateef is a very good friend.”
    “How good?” Jeb’s tone was irascibly patient.
    Staring at him from under lowered lashes, she answered him. “The best kind of friend a girl can
    have.”

    34
    CONNELLY’S FLAME
    Aliyah Burke

    “What exactly does that mean?” His question came as his hands dropped to grip the arms of the
    chair.
    “It means that he is the best thing I have my life,” she replied, remaining deliberately obtuse.
    “We will see,” he promised in a low voice.
    “Did you get whatever you needed to out of your system on your walk?” Dezarae changed the
    subject.
    “For now.” He stretched his long muscular legs out in front of him. “When’s bed?”
    Her mouth grew dry and her panties wet at that statement. “You can go whenever you want. I’m
    taking the couch.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not going to let you give up your bed for me.” That and I put some traps
    around your bedroom window so I know you will be safe there. I will be between you and the door.
    “I fit on the couch. You don’t,” she insisted.
    “Listen to me. You are sleeping in that bed tonight. With or without me but you aren’t sleeping on
    the couch.” There was no room for compromise in his tone.
    Sitting up, she tossed off the blanket. “What the hell is going on here?” She pointed one finger at
    him. “You have been acting different since we got back from the shop.”
    “Nothing,” he lied.
    Leaving the couch, she walked over to where he sat looking devilishly handsome in her chair.
    Poking him in the chest, she demanded, “Bullshit. What is going on?” Dezarae had her face right in his.
    Inhaling deeply, Jeb found himself surrounded by the subtle smell of Dezarae; it was the smell of
    sweet peas. He had looked through her stuff and found her soap and shampoo. His gaze raked over her body.
    The color of his eyes intensified as they filled with desire.
    “You smell so good,” he groaned before he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her.
    Dezarae straddled his lap and began to rock against his hard erection as she kissed him back with all
    she had. The kiss sent her insides into a wild swirl; she wanted