Free Illegal Motion: A Loveswept Classic Romance by Donna Kauffman Page A
Authors: Donna Kauffman
all. Judging from his grin, he was loving every minute of it.
“I did knock,” he said finally, his tone matching his sexy grin. “But you didn’t answer. You know, even way out here, you should be more careful about locking your doors.” He turnedback to the stove to tend to whatever was hissing and crackling.
Over his shoulder he added, his voice the epitome of nonchalance, “As much as I love that robe, if we’re going to get any talking done, you’d better go put some more clothes on.”
Silence. He turned back around.
She looked as though she was debating the merits of various methods of murder. Nick decided his best defense was a good offense. His specialty. He let his gaze rest on the enticing area of skin exposed by the parted robe. Smiling wickedly, he tapped the spatula he was holding against his chin as if trying to grasp an elusive thought. His eyes lit up as he hit on it. “I’ve got it. Jasmine, right? Great scent.” He turned back to the stove as her mouth dropped open, and calmly said, “Now hurry, breakfast is almost ready.”
FIVE
Willa opened her mouth then snapped it shut, deciding it would be best if she left the room, not caring what he read into her compliance with his arrogant request. The country kitchen she’d always wished was smaller and cozier had suddenly become far too intimate.
She dressed quickly, reassuring herself that the only reason she hadn’t told Nick to take a hike was because her stomach never would have forgiven her. She immediately recalled exactly what she’d hungered for a few moments ago. Damn his sexy hide , she swore silently, disgusted at her lack of control around him. The picture of sweet charm one minute, then arrogant self-confidence the next. And the total package appealed to her more than she cared to admit. She needed to slow down and figure things out before she went crazy.
“Breakfast is ready.”
Nick’s announcement boomed up the stairway, startling Willa. The time had come to tell him her side of it. Her weak plan to draw a confession out of Eric would never work. Had she really thought she could use her feminine wiles to get him to talk? She’d never quite figured what those wiles were, anyway … as Eric had pointed out. She gave a humorless laugh. Playing ball wasn’t the only thing Nick and Eric did well—and when it came to womanly charms, she was definitely in the rank-amateur league.
Her eyes lit up as she had a sudden idea. She dashed back into her room and dug through the explosion of clothes crammed into her armoire. “Aha!” She pulled on her favorite shirt like a battle shield and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. If she was going to have to play with the big boys, at least she’d have a team shirt on.
Nick went through the motions of preparing breakfast, his mind still dwelling on Willa in that Oriental robe. It was only the second time he’d seen her in anything other than sweats—and he couldn’t believe the restraint it had taken not to cross the room and convince her to let him touch that creamy skin so erotically wrapped in silk, to taste it.
Hearing hinges squeak, Nick turned and all thoughts of jade silk and frying bacon took flight. For erotic attire, nothing beat faded black jeans molded to legs that went on forever. So it was understandable that it took a second or two for him to notice the familiar red-and-white shirt she was wearing.
The last time he’d seen that emblem, the bulges under it had been formed by heavy padding. “The Carolina Rebels!” he shouted. Hostile feelings about his former team’s nemesis were ingrained and hadn’t disappeared simply because he no longer played the game.
“My favorite team,” Willa answered honestly, pointedly looking at Nick’s shirt.
Nick grimaced. His innocent choice of apparel must have come off looking like a direct challenge. “How could you be a Rebels fan? Your dad played for the Jaguars.”
“When Dad was first drafted into the NFL, he
“I did knock,” he said finally, his tone matching his sexy grin. “But you didn’t answer. You know, even way out here, you should be more careful about locking your doors.” He turnedback to the stove to tend to whatever was hissing and crackling.
Over his shoulder he added, his voice the epitome of nonchalance, “As much as I love that robe, if we’re going to get any talking done, you’d better go put some more clothes on.”
Silence. He turned back around.
She looked as though she was debating the merits of various methods of murder. Nick decided his best defense was a good offense. His specialty. He let his gaze rest on the enticing area of skin exposed by the parted robe. Smiling wickedly, he tapped the spatula he was holding against his chin as if trying to grasp an elusive thought. His eyes lit up as he hit on it. “I’ve got it. Jasmine, right? Great scent.” He turned back to the stove as her mouth dropped open, and calmly said, “Now hurry, breakfast is almost ready.”
FIVE
Willa opened her mouth then snapped it shut, deciding it would be best if she left the room, not caring what he read into her compliance with his arrogant request. The country kitchen she’d always wished was smaller and cozier had suddenly become far too intimate.
She dressed quickly, reassuring herself that the only reason she hadn’t told Nick to take a hike was because her stomach never would have forgiven her. She immediately recalled exactly what she’d hungered for a few moments ago. Damn his sexy hide , she swore silently, disgusted at her lack of control around him. The picture of sweet charm one minute, then arrogant self-confidence the next. And the total package appealed to her more than she cared to admit. She needed to slow down and figure things out before she went crazy.
“Breakfast is ready.”
Nick’s announcement boomed up the stairway, startling Willa. The time had come to tell him her side of it. Her weak plan to draw a confession out of Eric would never work. Had she really thought she could use her feminine wiles to get him to talk? She’d never quite figured what those wiles were, anyway … as Eric had pointed out. She gave a humorless laugh. Playing ball wasn’t the only thing Nick and Eric did well—and when it came to womanly charms, she was definitely in the rank-amateur league.
Her eyes lit up as she had a sudden idea. She dashed back into her room and dug through the explosion of clothes crammed into her armoire. “Aha!” She pulled on her favorite shirt like a battle shield and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. If she was going to have to play with the big boys, at least she’d have a team shirt on.
Nick went through the motions of preparing breakfast, his mind still dwelling on Willa in that Oriental robe. It was only the second time he’d seen her in anything other than sweats—and he couldn’t believe the restraint it had taken not to cross the room and convince her to let him touch that creamy skin so erotically wrapped in silk, to taste it.
Hearing hinges squeak, Nick turned and all thoughts of jade silk and frying bacon took flight. For erotic attire, nothing beat faded black jeans molded to legs that went on forever. So it was understandable that it took a second or two for him to notice the familiar red-and-white shirt she was wearing.
The last time he’d seen that emblem, the bulges under it had been formed by heavy padding. “The Carolina Rebels!” he shouted. Hostile feelings about his former team’s nemesis were ingrained and hadn’t disappeared simply because he no longer played the game.
“My favorite team,” Willa answered honestly, pointedly looking at Nick’s shirt.
Nick grimaced. His innocent choice of apparel must have come off looking like a direct challenge. “How could you be a Rebels fan? Your dad played for the Jaguars.”
“When Dad was first drafted into the NFL, he