The Baby Track Read Free

for Connor was a low blow.” He shook his head. “It’s going to take me a long time to recover from that one.”
    Courtney flushed. She was humiliated. And furious. And frustrated. She was getting nowhere with this disrespectful smart aleck, while he was having a field day mocking her. What was even worse was the uneasy notion that she was ably assisting him in making a fool of her.
    “Who are you?” she ground out, clenching her fingers into fists. Her palms were itching with the urge to slap that handsome face of his, to wipe off the mocking smile. It was a totally uncharacteristic impulse for her, for she loathed violence of any sort. Why, every holiday season she picketed the office of a toy store chain protesting their sale of war toys and martial arts items!
    She was committed to settling disputes with words, but at this moment, she very much wanted to smack the sarcastic smile off Connor McKay’s face. Horrified, Courtney put her hands behind her back.
    “I already told you my name,” Connor said, shrugging dismissively, seemingly unaware of her inner turmoil. Or if he were aware, it didn’t bother him in the least. Her anger rose with alarming force. “Then what are you?” “I’m something of a private investigator,” he replied nonchalantly.
    Courtney stared at him, momentarily agog. “You mean, like a policeman?”
    “No, Gypsy. Nothing at all like a policeman.”
    “Stop being so oblique. And don’t call me Gypsy.”
    “You look like a gypsy girl. Sultry, sexy. Hot dark eyes.” “You’re the one with the hot eyes,” she snapped. “Don’t think I’m not aware of the way you’ve been looking at me, stripping me naked—” She abruptly broke off, horrified with her admission. What on earth was the matter with her? She never blurted out her thoughts, had never once had an embarrassing slip of the tongue. Until now, in the infuriating, wicked presence of Connor McKay.
    “I plead guilty to stripping you with my eyes,” Connor admitted with a cool, sexy smile. “I wouldn’t mind doing it with my hands, either, Gypsy. But imagine you noticing and then commenting on it! I think I’m beginning to see why Jarrell doesn’t approve of you as an aspiring Harcourt.” Courtney, heralded by everybody who knew her for never losing her temper, finally lost it. She grabbed the nearest hurlable object, a large thick book on Celtic legends that had been the basis for a critically acclaimed television program last fall on NPB. Unfortunately it had suffered the usual NPB curse of dismal ratings. She drew back her arm to throw.
    “As I said—hot eyes, hot-blooded.” Connor’s sea-green eyes gleamed. “Go ahead, throw it, baby. That’ll give me cause to come after you. Like this.” He sprang from the chair, as swift and lithe as a leopard.
    Courtney scarcely had time to blink before he was standing directly in front of her.
    “And then I’ll retaliate. Like this.” His big hands cupped her shoulders and he pulled her against him with one deft movement.
    She was so shocked that the book fell from her suddenly nerveless fingers. It landed on the carpet with a thud. Just as quickly and unexpectedly as he’d grabbed her, Connor released her. He bent down and picked up the book, then set it carefully on the top of the desk.
    “But since you didn’t throw the book, after all, I have no reason to retaliate, do I, Courtney?” His voice was low and husky.
    They were still standing close together, and warmth pooled deep in his groin as he stared down at her, taking thorough inventory of her—her big brown eyes, that gorgeous mouth, her breasts, her slender, well-shaped legs in the sheer, cream-tinted nylons. Her dark green leather shoes were as dainty and as sexy as her small, slim feet. He inhaled the clean, fresh scent of her hair and had to restrain himself from reaching out to stroke it.
    This little game was beginning to get out of hand, he realized with a start. Playing with the deceptively