SuddenHeat (9 page)
Authors: Denise A. Agnew
“Can I come in?”
She backed away and let him inside. After closing the door
and locking it, she turned back to him. He stood in the middle of the living
room, the frown on his face so thunderous she launched right into finding out
what the hell was going on.
“Matt, what’s happened? You’re scaring me.”
His face relaxed a little and he took a deep breath. He
walked toward her, his particular walk a slow, muscular movement that made her
ache with longing just to look at him. God, she was going to miss him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just… Look, I
don’t know where to start. I didn’t even realize you’d left the wedding for a
long time. When I went looking for you Danelle said you went home sick and I
was worried.”
Seeing him now only drove home how much harder it would be
to say goodbye again. “I shouldn’t have left her to fend for herself like that.
It was selfish of me. I’m the maid of honor after all.”
To her surprise he cupped her face in both hands. “Are you
sure you’re all right? Damn it, sweetheart, you’ve been crying. Are you in
pain?”
She clasped his forearms, savoring the feeling of hard
muscles under her fingers. “Oh no. No I…” She gestured to the television, which
was still running. “I always cry when I watch this movie.”
“Uh-huh.” He looked doubtful. “I needed to talk to you
anyway before I left tomorrow morning. There’s no way I was leaving us like this.
I’m a marine, damn it, and I’ve been acting like a green teenage boy with his
hormones on fire instead of a man. I’m a fucking chump.”
His description amused her and she laughed softly around the
lump in her throat. “There’s nothing remotely boyish about you, Matt Frasier.”
He caressed her cheeks and the sensation of his fingers on
her skin sent her hormones into a wild riot. “I was raised to treat women right
and I haven’t done that with you. I’m ashamed.”
“What?” Confused, she continued with, “I don’t understand.
You’re the most protective, chivalrous man I’ve ever met.”
He kissed her forehead. “That’s not what I mean. What I mean
is that I’ve been dancing around my feelings this whole week. You know I was
attracted to you from the moment I saw you. I could have chalked up the
connection we made after the mall shooting as a temporary thing but it wasn’t.
It
isn’t
. I don’t want to leave us like this, Melanie. I care for you
more than any woman I’ve ever met.”
He kissed her tenderly and her heart melted into a puddle at
her feet. It was a sweet, cherishing kiss and it made her glow from the inside
out. Happiness began a dance inside her. She smoothed her hands over his chest
and looked up at him in wonderment.
When she didn’t speak, he cracked a half smile. “You’re
killin’ me here, sweetheart. Talk to me. If you don’t feel the same way, if you
want me to drag my sorry ass out of here, just say the word. I won’t bother you
again. I want to be with you, Melanie, and I want to work it out some way.
Somehow.”
With a joyous sound she threw her arms around his neck. He
laughed and drew her tight against his chest. When she drew back a moment
later, she said, “If you’re a chump, so am I. I could have told you at any time
that I was starting to have feelings for you but I knew you were leaving for
California and I thought the whole just sex thing would be enough. But it
isn’t. I’ve been unhappy as hell. Even if I wasn’t watching this movie I’d
still be bawling my eyes out over you.”
He grinned, and the happiness in his expression told her
everything she needed to know. He
did
want to be with her.
“I want us to be together whenever and however we can. If
that means visiting on weekends, whatever,” he said.
With hot, deep kisses she showed him how much she loved the
idea. When she came up for air, she almost cried again, this time with joy.
“We’ll work this out, Matt. I’m so glad you stopped by. God, I’m so glad.”
“This is the start of something special.” His voice was
hushed, reverent. “I’m falling for you.” He lifted her into his arms again and
headed for the bedroom. “Let me show you just how much.”
The End
Suspenseful, erotic, edgy, thrilling, romantic, adventurous.
All these words are used to describe award-winning, bestselling novelist Denise
A. Agnew’s novels.
Romantic Times Magazine
called her romantic suspense
novels
Dangerous Intentions
and
Treacherous Wishes
“top-notch
romantic suspense”. With paranormal, time travel, romantic comedy,
contemporary, historical, erotica and romantic suspense novels under her belt,
she proves her gift for writing about a diverse range of subjects. (Writing
tales that scare the reader is her ultimate thrill.)
Denise’s inspiration for her novels comes from innumerable
sources, but the fact that she has lived in Colorado, Hawaii and the United
Kingdom has given her a lifetime of ideas. Her experiences with archaeology
have crept into her work, as well as numerous travels throughout England,
Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Denise currently lives in Arizona with her real
life hero, her husband.
Denise welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You
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Denise
A. Agnew
Deep
is the Night 2: Night Watch
Deep
is the Night 3: Haunted Souls
Ellora’s Cavemen:
Dreams of the Oasis II
anthology
Ellora’s
Cavemen: Tales from the Temple IV
anthology
Special
Investigations Agency: Clandestine
Special
Investigations Agency: Hideaway
Special
Investigations Agency: Impetuous
Special
Investigations Agency: Instinct
Special
Investigations Agency: Jungle Fever
Special
Investigations Agency: Maneater
Special
Investigations Agency: Over the Line
Special
Investigations Agency: Primordial
Special
Investigations Agency: Shadows and Ruins
Special
Investigations Agency: Sins and Secrets
Special
Investigations Agency: Special Agent Santa
By
Honor Bound
anthology
Deep
is the Night 2: Night Watch
Deep
is the Night 3: Haunted Souls
Ellora’s
Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis II
anthology
Ellora’s
Cavemen: Tales from the Temple IV
anthology
Special
Investigations Agency: Clandestine
Special
Investigations Agency: Hideaway
Special
Investigations Agency: Impetuous
Special
Investigations Agency: Primordial
Special
Investigations Agency: Shadows and Ruins
Special Investigations
Agency: Sins and Secrets
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Sudden Heat
ISBN 9781419948152
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sudden Heat Copyright © 2013 Denise A. Agnew
Edited by Ann Leveille
Cover design by Syneca and Michelle B.
Cover photography by CURAphotography, conrado, Dmitrijs
Bindemanis/shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication September 2013
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