Scenes of Passion Read Free Page A

sound exactly the same,” she said.
    â€œYikes,” he said. “Really? That’s kind of scary.”
    Maggie laughed. “So what kind of business are you in these days?”
    â€œThe inheritance business,” he told her. “Can you meet me tonight for dinner? I’m going to ask you to do me a giant favor and I’d rather not do it over the phone. I need the opportunity to use visuals—you know, so I can properly grovel.”
    He did sound exactly the same. “How giant is this favor?”
    â€œIt’s about twenty-five million dollars giant.”
    Maggie choked. “What?”
    â€œI really want to wait and talk to you about this in person,” Matt said. “How about if I pick you up at six-thirty?”
    Maggie looked at that new stack of files on her desk. “Let’s make it later. I’m going to be here for a while, and I was hoping to hit the health club tonight. I want to go to a class that ends at eight. Is that too late?”
    â€œThat’s right. Tonight’s that dance class you like to take. I’ve seen you over there, you know.”
    â€œYou’re kidding. You saw me at the club and you didn’t bother to say hello?” Maggie couldn’t believe it. “Thanks a million.”
    â€œYou didn’t see me?” he asked.
    â€œIf I had, I would’ve said hi. Jeez, Matt.”
    He laughed. “It makes sense that you wouldn’t recognize me. I’ve put on some weight.”
    â€œReally?” Maggie tried to picture Matt carrying an extra fifty pounds around his waist. Oh, dear. He was probably balding, too. No doubt it was his cosmic punishment for being too gleamingly handsome as a seventeen-year-old.
    â€œLook, why don’t we meet at the club?” he asked. “We can get something healthy to eat in the café.”
    Maggie snorted. “Yeah—since when do you eat anything healthy, Mr. Cheese Fries?”
    Matt laughed. “I’ll see you a little after eight.”
    Â 
    Thanks to the files on her desk, Maggie missed the dance class. It was eight-fifteen before she pulled into the health club parking lot.
    And there he was. Her jungle man. Hanging out right by the door, leaning against the wall. Dressed in jeans and that white T-shirt, just like in her fantasy.
    Only this was real.
    He was just standing there, as if he were waiting for her. And she was going to have to rush right past him, because she’d already kept Matt waiting.
    Boy, she hated being late.
    But as she moved toward him, the jungle man pushed himself up and off the wall. His hair was down around his shoulders, shiny and clean. His shoulders and chest were unbelievably broad, and the muscles in his arms actually strained against the sleeves of his T-shirt.
    His face was twice as handsome as she’d imagined—although the twilight still made it hard to see him clearly.
    He smiled as she drew closer, and she realized that his cheekbones were indeed a work of art. And his chin and his smile with those gracefully shaped lips, and those golden brown eyes that were—oh my God!— Matthew’ s eyes…
    Maggie couldn’t remember the last time she’d been completely speechless. But she sure as hell was speechless now.
    Matthew.
    Her fantasy jungle man was actually her old buddy Matthew .
    He’d put on some weight, all right, but it was all solid muscle.
    â€œHey, Mags,” he said—Matt’s voice coming out of this stranger’s mouth. He was laughing at her. He knew damn well that she’d noticed him in the club but hadn’t recognized him.
    Come on, Maggie. You’re an actor. Act .
    â€œHey, Matt,” she said, her voice coming out perfectly matter of fact. “I’m sorry I’m running late.”
    â€œThat’s all right,” he said. “I’m just glad you’re here. You look great, by the way.”
    â€œI still look fourteen,” she