Million Dollar Valentine by Rita Clay Estrada

Million Dollar Valentine by Rita Clay Estrada

Author:Rita Clay Estrada
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00


7

IN THE COOLNESS of Blake’s apartment Crystal suddenly felt awkward and uncomfortable. Was he expecting…? Should she…?

“Let me get that glass of wine,” he said, stepping into the kitchen.

Music flowed out of several speakers from the corners of the room. Classical. She should have known. “Do you always play your stereo when you’re gone?”

“Always.” His voice was muffled. “I like coming home and hearing it. Makes me feel welcome.”

“Classical.”

“I can change it to rock or jazz.” He came around the kitchen entrance and raised a brow in question. His hands held two crystal glasses of golden-colored wine.

Unwilling to look into his dark-blue eyes, Crystal accepted one and turned toward the patio doors. Although it was January and the temperature was chilly, sun poured through the vertical blinds warming the apartment. The trees outside the fenced patio were bare, waiting for spring to clothe them. Beyond them was the apartment pool. But her mind was focused on the man standing near her. She was aware of his presence with every fiber of her being.

“Crystal, what’s on your mind?”

She took a sip of wine. It was a delaying tactic. “Nothing, why?” She looked up at him and knew she was lost.

The intensity of his gaze ate her up at the same time it filled her with heat. “You haven’t lied to me before. Why start now?”

Her breath came out in a soft whoosh. “You’re right,” she finally admitted. She was torn between being afraid he’d march her to the door, or worse yet, that he’d laugh at her. But she had to take a stand. “I guess I’m just scared. I want to make sure that we understand each other. I mean…”

“No ties?”

That sounded so…unconnected and made what she had experienced last night sound trashy. It wasn’t—not by a long shot. But she wasn’t sure what to call what she wanted from Blake. All she knew was that she’d never been so scared. “Well, not any more than a dating couple would have.”

He stared at her a moment.

“No permanent ties?”

“Right,” she said, relaxing.

He tilted his head, those piercing eyes boring into her as if they were drills. “Afraid of commitment?”

She looked him straight in the eye. “Only with someone who’s not right for me.”

His gaze narrowed. “Are you telling me I’m good enough to screw but not good enough to marry?” His voice was low, growling at her. The sound of his voice was enough to scare little children from the door. And the chill in his eyes was as deadly as an avalanche.

Tension filled every nerve in her body. Marriage? Where was he coming from? “Are you asking for marriage?”

“No.”

She relaxed. Even though she knew it sounded wrong, she had to stand up for what was best for her. No one else would. She took a sip of her wine, wishing she had the nerve to gulp it down. “I’m telling you that we’re not meant for marriage. You and I both know that. But there’s this chemistry thing….”

He looked puzzled as he studied the problem.



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