Star Kissed: A Crane Series Romance Read Free Page A

him ahead of time of her intentions seemed like a bad idea right now when he was half a cup of coffee away from showing her the door.
    She thought quickly. “Well, if you want to check out the party scene, I’m your girl. I know all the hot places and can introduce you to a lot of really fun people. I can show you around. Just one more service I’ll provide as your housemate.”
    He crossed his arms and regarded her. “And what, the three of us return here? I don’t think so.”
    The only time she ever came home alone was if she wanted to. However, her amazing instinct about this man kicked in yet again before she said any such thing. A plan was forming in her mind, even as she tried to look crestfallen, but understanding.
    “All right. I understand. But would you do me a big favor and let me stay tonight? In exchange, I’ll cook you dinner and we’ll plan a strategy for you.”
    “Strategy?”
    “Ye-eah. You’re here what, two weeks? We’ll plan all the places you need to go.” She deliberately looked him up and down. “What to wear, what to order, what . . . what Australian women like in bed.”
    Swift humor lit his eyes, and she thought a man who looked so gorgeous when he smiled ought to do it more often.
    “How about I work out that last one by trial and error.”
    Her own quick smile flashed back at him. “All right. So, is it a deal?”
    “One night.”
    She nodded. A lot could happen in one night.
     

Chapter 2
    Mark blinked. If only he didn’t feel so fuzzy-headed, he was certain he’d see all the flaws in Bronwyn’s idea. If she’d been thrown out of her apartment, how great a roommate was she going to be even for one night? He needed sleep, so if she was staying here hoping to turn this place into Sydney’s party central, he was going to have to put his foot down. He’d showered, shaved, and was telling himself he felt fine. He refused even to calculate how long it had been since he’d slept. While his one night roommate shopped for dinner, he unpacked. Then he set up his laptop at the desk in the fully equipped office area of the big bedroom and checked his email. And suddenly, California seemed worlds away.
    Well, he didn’t trust Bronwyn for a second, but somehow he’d scored a beautiful, sexy woman cooking him dinner and sharing his place his first night in Sydney. A woman who owned a glittery thong. He chuckled. His intuition had been right. He was going to like this city. After he’d forwarded most of the emails to people who could deal with them, he shut down and decided he’d been cooped up long enough.
    He pulled on running gear and headed out. He reached for the door handle as the door opened and there was Bronwyn, loaded down with shopping bags and a little breathless from the outside stairs. Her blond hair floated loose around her shoulders, her denim-blue eyes widened in surprise at the near impact. This close, he could see a cluster of freckles beneath the light tan. She wore a navy tank top with the small Crane logo, and brief white shorts that showed a lot of slim, tanned leg. She smelled of healthy young woman, salt air, and pineapple. While he’d checked her out, she’d done the same.
    “Going running?”
    “Yes.”
    “Need a map?”
    “No.” He had a good sense of direction, and he’d keep his route simple. She nodded.
    “Okay. I could give you a key now, but I’ll be here when you get back.”
    “I’ll take your set,” he said, keeping his voice even.
    “Tomorrow.” Her cheeks grew rosier.
    “Yes, of course.” Feeling churlish, he said, “Need a hand with the bags?”
    “No, thanks. I’ve got it. I hope you like fish.”
    “Love it.”
    He let himself out and the warmth hit him along with a salt-tinged ocean breeze, around ten degrees warmer at a guess than the weather he’d left in San Francisco. Knowing he was probably dehydrated from flying, he stopped at a corner store and bought water, then he kept his pace easy. He nearly collided with