Free Rose Quartz by Sandra Cox Page B

it felt like Hank had just slapped her. “Are you, cowboy?”
    “Not with you.”
    “What does that mean?” she fired back, fisting her hands on her hips.
    “Figure it out.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t going to jump your bones, just kiss you.”
    “One of us would have been jumping bones and the other would have been responding.”
    Heat shot through her, flushing her face. “That sounds rather arrogant.”
    “Only if it’s not true.”
    “Well,” was all she could think to say.
    She touched her amulet.
    “Don’t do that, Bella.” His eyes darkened, color rode high on his lean weathered cheeks.
    “Do what?” she stalled.
    “And don’t play games. I’m sure you are good at it but I admire the way you can call a spade a spade even if it is dressed up with sugar and goo.”
    She heaved a sigh. “Actually I was trying for some inspiration when I touched the amulet. I don’t quite know what to make of you, Hank McHenry.”
    “Oh, you know what to make of me, all right.” his crispy Yankee vowels softened and went as smooth as malt whiskey. “It’s us you don’t know what to make of.” He shrugged, his thumbs still hooked in his pockets. “Neither do I. I’m pushing fifty, Bella, and I feel like an awkward teenager with his first crush on a girl. You are way out of my league. And this is way more talkin’ than I’m used to doing.” He ran his fingers through his hair in a restless gesture. “Listen to me, I sound like a babbling fool.”
    “That’s one thing it would be impossible for you to sound like, Hank McHenry.” For a moment her guard was down. The sugared Southern belle persona set firmly aside. Staring up at him, she jumped when the call box sounded.
    He looked at her in disbelief, “Is it always this busy around here?”
    Still off-center she just stood looking at him.
    “Bella?”
    She blinked and reached automatically for her amulet but he caught her hand and held it in a gentle clasp.
    “Don’t. If you ratchet up your beauty one more notch I won’t be responsible. You don’t need this for a creative response. You’ve got a good mind, woman, use it.”
    “Damn but you’re right.” She could feel her eyes sparkling as she gave him a sensual smile, studying him beneath hooded lids. Her lips stretched in satisfaction. His reaction was all she could hope for. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He dropped her hand and took a step back.
    The call box sounded again. She flipped her hair off her neck with her fingers and raised an eyebrow then turned and sashayed into the foyer. For a moment back there she’d let the cowboy get to her but she was back in control and that’s just the way she liked it.
    “Ms. Bella.” Bobby’s voice echoed through the foyer.
    She pressed the button. “Yes, Bobby?”
    “You have a visitor.”
    Who , Bobby ?She rolled her eyes but said in a calm voice, “Who is it?”
    There was a long pause. For a moment, Bella was afraid he’d forgotten the question.
    “Mr. Johnny Morelly.”
    Bella reeled, finding her newly won control slipping. Too bad there wasn’t a back way out of this place.
    She cleared her throat. “Is there anyone with him?”
    “There are two goon…er, men standing in front of his car.”
    “Miz Tremaine?” Johnny’s slick-as-oil voice came over the speaker.
    She leaned forward, toward the box. “Yes?”
    “I’m alone, may I come up?”
    “Why?” she asked bluntly.
    “I need to speak to a Hank McHenry and I believe he’s staying with you. Would you like your doorman to pat me down?”
    She bit back several pithy remarks, none of them complimentary to the mob boss or her doorman.
    As she turned her head, she saw Hank standing at the edge of the foyer, his legs splayed, his muscles taut. He gave a curt nod.
    “Are you crazy?” she mouthed.
    For a moment she could have sworn his eyes twinkled but she must have imagined it. The next instant his features were as taciturn as ever. “Do it,