Nothing But Trouble Read Free Page B

does no one think I'm capable of walking
two miles?"
    "I can't imagine," he said with a pointed
look at her heels.
    Okay, yes. They weren't the ideal footwear
for walking to her practice. And yes, they pinched her toes after
several hours. But what other choice did she have? She'd left her
car in her parents' driveway, and she had to get to work
somehow.
    R.J. rolled his eyes at her obvious lack of
common sense. "I'll drive you."
    I'd rather walk barefoot. Over hot
coals . "I'm fine," she said instead.
    He came toward her with slow movements, and
she tried not to focus on those long, powerful legs. "I have to go
out anyway, and your practice is on my way."
    She studied him for a moment. The brown
flecks in his green eyes were especially pronounced today. They
looked like specks of gold in contrast to the emerald irises. The
combination of his blond hair and green eyes had always made him
look like a good ol' boy. Or maybe the good ol' boy's evil
twin.
    "You do not have to go out," she
countered.
    "Always so technical," he said. "Humor me
anyway."
    And with that, he placed a hand on her lower
back and ushered her out of the shop. Even through her blouse, the
heat of his hand warmed her skin. The heat travelled down her legs,
paying special attention to her loins, which had been painfully
neglected over the years. As though her body remembered his touch,
her nerves ignited with a fire they hadn't felt in nine years. Nine
long years of mundane love-making that could barely light a match.
One touch from R.J. and she remembered why no other man had
measured up.
    They reached some kind of muscle car that was
in pristine condition. The flawless, shiny vehicle was white with a
thin black stripe going around the base of the car. The thing was
mean-looking and only had two doors, each probably weighing more
than she did. With no emblem visible, Rebecca had no clue what kind
of car this was. Nor was it the same one she'd seen R.J. driving a
few months ago.
    "What happened to the Firebird?" she asked as
he unlocked her door and went around to his side.
    "I sold it a few months ago and picked this
up for pennies," he answered as they both climbed in the car.
    The leather seats were cool and in perfect
condition. They were shiny and the same color as coal.
    "I fixed this up in my spare time."
    "What kind of car is this?" she asked while
running her hands over the soft interior of the door.
    "It's a '68 Chevelle." The engine was loud
and rumbly, just as a muscle car should sound. The vehicle vibrated
with power around them. R.J. slid a pair of dark sunglasses over
his eyes and glanced at her. "Want to drive it?" he asked with a
smile.
    Her heart beat up to her throat when he
grinned at her like that. That smile always meant trouble, and it
was usually something Rebecca wasn't prepared for. One of his many
talents was catching her off-guard. But that wasn't entirely his
fault. The fault lay with her for being too unaware for whatever
devious plan he had for her.
    "I think I'll stick with modern cars."
    His big hands shifted the gear as they pulled
onto the road. "You should step outside your comfort zone every
once in a while."
    Thanks, but I did that once
already .
    She'd been left without her virginity, and
loving a man she knew she'd never have.

TWO
     
    R.J. was convinced that Rebecca Underwood was placed on this planet to drive him out
of his mind. Long legs, high heels, and a sassy attitude were all
the key ingredients for an irresistible woman. And he would know
all about irresistible.
    He'd spent the better part of fifteen years
trying to resist her and the weird spell she had over him.
Ninety-nine percent of the time he'd succeeded. Unfortunately that
one percent was what had kept him up a lot of nights and drove him
into the arms of other women. Women like his office manager,
Danielle.
    Danielle wasn't an easy woman to deal with,
and Rebecca had handled her like a champ. Even though R.J. had seen
right through that calm exterior.