Free The Seduction Scheme by Kim Lawrence Page B

this—or the car—it drives me crazy. It’s so distinctive—not the pretty flowery stuff but that warm female smell that comes off your body.’ His words emerged in uneven staccato bursts and his fingers, as they gripped the stem of a glass he’d idly picked off the draining-board, were white. Suddenly the stem cracked with a noise like a pistol shot.
    â€˜Sorry.’
    â€˜You’re bleeding,’ she said hoarsely as she watched the scarlet drops land on the white counter. He was watching the flow of blood with a peculiar lack of interest. ‘Here, put it under the cold water.’ She grabbed his wrist and thrust his hand under the tap.
    â€˜Florence Nightingale.’
    â€˜I could hardly watch you bleed to death in my kitchen,’ she said gruffly. His forearm was covered in fine dark hairs; they felt surprisingly soft under her fingers. Stroking couldn’t be designated as first aid, she told herself firmly, stifling some very strong urges in that direction.
    â€˜It’s only a scratch.’
    â€˜That’s very brave and macho of you, but it looks pretty deep to me,’ she said worriedly. ‘I’ve got a first-aid kit in the bathroom; don’t go away.’
    â€˜It’s good to be wanted.’
    Wanted? If he knew the half of it…! Then again she’d not been exactly subtle so he probably did. As she rushed through the living room Charlie was engrossed in her favourite video. She ought to be concentrating on sorting out the latest disaster in her child’s life— fighting , for heaven’s sake! Instead what was she doing? Mooning over some beautiful body dangerously attached to a cunning mind.
    She’d never be able to pick up her perfume without beingreminded of his words—words that had filled her with a savage exhilaration: he was hurting as much as she was. There was another, less palatable and unflattering explanation—he might just be recycling old and well-tried lines. He’d had so many women it wasn’t reasonable to expect originality.
    All the same he’d have to be a very good actor to fake that raw need in his voice. The downy hair over her body stood on end as she relived those breathless few seconds.
    â€˜Sorry if that hurts,’ she said a few moments later as she applied pressure to the dressing to stem the flow of blood.
    â€˜It takes my mind off the other pain.’
    â€˜Which…?’ She raised her eyes to his face and immediately wished she hadn’t.
    â€˜I think you know what pain I’m talking about.’
    She did now: his eyes were very eloquent. ‘I won’t offer you the use of my cold shower; I’m sure you’ve got a perfectly good one at home.’
    â€˜You’d consign me to seventies retro? Black tiles and mirrors on the ceiling? Cruel, cruel woman.’
    â€˜If you don’t like it…’ she began curiously.
    â€˜When asked my opinion I made the major error of admitting I didn’t give a damn.’
    â€˜Why would you do anything so stupid?’ She finished securing the light dressing with tape and stood back to observe her handiwork.
    â€˜Because I didn’t care.’
    â€˜What a peculiar attitude.’
    â€˜You’ve done this before,’ he said, turning over his bandaged hand.
    â€˜You’ve met Charlie—are you surprised? Though she’s never gone in for fighting before.’ A worried frown creased her wide, smooth brow.
    â€˜I’d listen to her story before you tell her off,’ he observed casually.
    The unspoken overtones almost jumped out and bit her on the nose. ‘Why do you say that?’ she asked suspiciously. ‘Has she said something to you?’ The idea of Charlie confiding in someone who was almost a total stranger— Heavens, I’m jealous! she realised. When did I get so sour and disgustingly twisted?
    â€˜Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone