The Heartbreaker Read Free Page B

heart.”
    â€œNeither do L” Mike put down the stained-glass night-light he’d been inspecting. “Fortunately, you have me.”
    â€œYou?”
    His tone was mild. “You sound as if it’s a joke.” He meandered over toward The Embrace .
    â€œIt is a joke.” She suspected he’d deliberately moved closer to the incriminating circle of stained glass to taunt her. Any minute now he’d ask her about it. “You’re not a machinist,” she said.
    â€œSure I am.” He ran a finger along the ebony wood frame of the piece. “I spent five summers working for Dad, and I even found work as a machinist in Brazil, between expeditions, when I needed the extra cash.” He turned to her. “I’m qualified to produce the cutters for you, Beth.”
    Making a deal with Colby would be risking her financial future. She knew that going in. But making a deal with this man would be suicide for her emotional wellbeing. “And how long could you spare, Mike? Three days? That won’t be much help.”
    He gave her a mock bow. “I’ll stay as long as you need me, my lady.”
    That almost undid her, but she clenched her hands and forced herself not to react. “Six months?”
    He flinched but didn’t look away. “Sure, if it takes that long.”
    â€œSorry, but I won’t let you martyr yourself on my account. And don’t kid yourself. You’d never last six months. We don’t have piranhas in the streams around Bisbee, or ferocious jaguars, or man-eating crocodiles. You’d go crazy living so far from your precious rain forest, and we both know it”
    A muscle worked in his jaw. “You’re making this seem tougher than it has to be. Dad was planning to train a couple of people to help manufacture the cutters, anyway. I could train them, and once Dad comes home, he could supervise. I’d be out of here in six weeks, not six months.”
    She began to panic. He and Ernie had thought this plan out very thoroughly, and it might even work, except for the fact that having Mike around would be hell on earth for her. She took refuge in the truth. “I don’t want you to stay, Mike.”
    Anger flared in his eyes. “Dammit, Beth, grow up. What happened eight years ago is no reason to jeopardize your future now.”
    She wanted to hit him. Instead she turned away and folded her arms. “It has nothing to do with maturity. I’m looking at this from a purely practical standpoint. Working with glass, which is how I earn my living, requires a calm mind. If I’m in a bad mood, I can’t cut the glass without breaking it, so I’ve eliminated the negative influences in my life. I can’t risk having you around.”
    He was silent for several seconds. “If I’m such a negative influence in your life,” he said quietly, “then why am I hanging in your studio window?”

2
    M IKE COULD TELL from the way Beth’s shoulders tensed that she’d been dreading the question. But she had to know he’d ask about the stained-glass piece.
    She kept her back to him. “I think you’d better leave.”
    â€œSorry. You’re not getting off that easy. I have a right to know why you made this.”
    â€œI don’t have to explain anything.”
    She had a point. “Okay, supposing I want to buy it? I couldn’t find a price tag. How much are you charging for...” He paused and consulted the small white card in a holder on the windowsill beneath the circle of colored glass. “For The Embrace? ”
    She muttered something he couldn’t understand.
    â€œI can’t hear you.” He stepped closer to her. “How much?”
    She whirled to face him, her gaze stormy. “I said it’s not for sale.”
    He considered that for a while and became more intrigued by the minute. “When did you make it?”
    â€œWhat does it