The Unsung Hero Read Free Page A

buried in a book." He watched her for a few seconds, an easy
smile lifting the corners of his firm mouth. "But I am surprised by
your choice of... reading material."
    Samantha tilted her chin and regarded him.
"Why?"
    "A teacher who likes romances?" There was a
gleam of laughter in his eyes as he shaded them from the bright
glare of the sun. "What would your students say if they knew you
were reading tales of lust and passion? Worse yet, what would their
parents think?"
    Samantha arched a brow, still bristling a
little. "They would probably think I was disgracefully depraved,"
she said primly, then added, "or perhaps exceedingly deprived. But
what I read I in my own time is my own business. But just to
reassure you, I'll have you know I have a healthy appreciation for
Steinbeck and Hemingway and I've read every single word of War and
Peace!"
    His eyes were a warm shade of toasty brown
as he gazed across at her. "I think," he said dryly, "I've just
discovered the true meaning of the phrase 'properly
chastised.'"
    A tingle of excitement raced down her spine
at his look. She couldn't help it. She attempted to cover it by
tucking her hair behind an ear. "And you seem to be rather well
versed in historical romance jargon for a man."
    The stranger's smile deepened. "What would
you say if I told you I'd read a few?"
    It took a moment for his words to sink in,
but when they did, her mouth tightened. She observed his relaxed
position on the sand, his bronzed skin a sharp contrast to the
fluffy white beach towel. He looked very virile and totally
masculine sitting there so casually. He was as much an oaf as
Fabio and yet... something told her he was perfectly serious.
    A man who read romances. He was toying with
her. With an effort she forced her eyes to meet his. "How . . .
unusual."
    "Yes, I suppose it is." A cocky grin split
his lean features. "But just for the record, I only did it out of
curiosity--and duty. Yes . . . duty."
    Duty? This was growing stranger by the
moment, she thought to herself. She was on the verge of
questioning him further when he reached out a long arm and plucked
her paperback from the bag between them. "As a matter of fact--"
there was a smile in his voice as he stared at the cover "--I'm
extremely familiar with this author's books."
    "You are?" A strange feeling of pleasure
surged through her as she slipped her legs over the side of her
chair and wiggled her toes in the warm sand. Was he mocking her? He
didn't seem to be . . ."What a coincidence," she said. "Cathryn
James is my favorite author. I love the way she writes and I never
miss any of her books."
    "Hmm." was his only comment. He rose lithely
to his feet and took a single step backward. Her eyes followed his
form, and she suddenly realized he was leaving. Of all the luck,
she thought to herself irritably. The dream of a lifetime and he
was walking out the door after barely sticking his foot inside.
What a lousy way to start her vacation.
    But someone upstairs must have been watching
out for her. She could hardly believe it when he held out a hand to
her. "How about a walk on the beach with me?"
    "Sure." It was all she could do to restrain
herself from doing handsprings on the sand--as if she knew how--but
she let him pull her up beside him.
    "Tell me something," he said, looking down at
her. "How do you say the name of this place?"
    "Neskowin?" When he nodded, she smiled.
"Nes-kow-in. Slight accent on the first syllable, silent 'w.'" The
dazzling smile he gave her nearly took her breath away, but they
hadn't gone more than a few steps when she tugged on his hand and
halted. She glanced up at him, her look playful, as a belated
thought suddenly occurred to her. "It might be nice if I knew who I
was walking on the beach with."
    His lips turned up in a barely discernible
smile as he looked down into her upturned face. "Jason," he
supplied softly.
    "Jason . . . ?" To her surprise, at her
question, he stopped and bowed down low before her with a
flourish.