Johnny Blue Read Free

parts.”
    “Eh,” he shrugged, “here and there.”
    I tore my eyes from his broad glowing chest and ran into his direct gaze. I quic k ly looked around the small kitchen . “Can’t believe what you’ve done to this place . Rea l ly nice. ”
    He turned to the sink and my eyes swerved back to his body . I watched the bea u tiful phenomena of rippling muscles in his arms and back as he got the pot ready for fresh coffee . I forced my attention to the pot . “I love those aluminum drip pots.” I ma n aged to keep my voice between high and low but I couldn’t manage keeping my eyes of f his body .
    He glanced over his shoulder and my cheeks burned at being caught gawking . Again.
    Good grief . I scratched my cheek and stared at the copper pots hanging above the tiny island . “You got yourself some nice cookware there . ” I nodded at them . “ D o they actually work?”
    He set the pot on the stove, turned on a low flame then headed toward me with that smile that could possibly mean he thought I was a fantastic idiot . But at least a fun one . My body gradually tensed as he drew closer, already resisting that gravitational pull he had about him. Lord, standing there like he didn’t affect me one bit was like holding up a mountain .  
    “I should get a shirt on. ”
    I choked out a gasp, horrified . Horrified that it was quite obvious to him how much he affected me. “Oh, pffft , not at all, you’re fine,” I said, making it clear that it was utterly unnecessary .
    He grinned. “Well thank you.”
    “I meant, I’m fine, as in, not bothered, it doesn’t bother me, I see men all the time like that around here, everybody goes around in the summer time without shirts.” I capped the lie with an overly exuberant laugh.
    “Everybody?”
    I met his teasing gaze and half grin . “You know what I mean. ” My voice dropped to its usual low tenor, aka my strong voice.
    “I’m Johnny. ” He reached a hand out to me.
    I tore my eyes from his and stared at his hand . I was suddenly very concerned over what touching this man would do to me. “Jewel. ” I p laced my hand in his .
    My heart raced as he lifted it and pressed my knuckles to his soft, full lips . “Pe r fect name.”
    His hot breath and lips on my fingers went straight to all those womanly places that I’d barred every man from. I gripped his fingers, needing something to hold on to .
    He eyed me with wonder .
    I forced a disconnection, trying to appear unburned by his touch. But I failed miserably as I pulled back my hand with a series of embarrassing jerky hesitations. My lord, I’d said more without words than I could or wanted to explain, and yet felt the need to . “Johnny, huh? ” It came on a squeaky whisper .
    “Yeah.” He lowered his head, and I glanced at him, trying to read his mind. He looked troubled , b ut about what and why , lord I wanted to know .
    “Do you have a middle name, Jewel?”
    He spot-lighted me with liquid sapphire and my mouth opened without speech . “Uh, well, yeah, everybody has a middle name. ” I stroked my ponytail several times and tried to smile. “Pearl is mine . Jewel Pearl Harbor.” I gave a light laugh. “Momma and daddy never lacked a sense of humor.” I realized I cared way too much about what he thought about my stupid name. Of course his face would grow so darn serious again. And mysterious. “It’s uh, a family joke. ” I took a deep breath, feeling the need to level this playing field . “What about you?  What’s your middle name?”
    He turned from the island and answered me with his delicious backside . “No middle name . Just Johnny Blue.”
    I averted my gaze as he turned with the coffee pot, barely managing to not get caught lusting. I watched the coppery liquid pour into the red ceramic. “Johnny Blue? Well I think that’s a very nice name . Is that why your favorite color is blue?”
    He only gave a soft smile, keep ing his attention on the cups. “How do you know