Jezebel Koko Brown (best books to read non fiction txt) 📖

turneda new leaf, she would have bedded Shane and thrown him aside foranother.

Deep down, Celeste knew shewas lying to herself. Shane had proved to be different, muchdifferent from her past suitors put together—evidenced by thefact that he was the only man who could seduce her with only a touchor a kiss.

It was unfair what he did toher, reducing her to this frightened, needy thing that craved thesatiation only he could offer her. Celeste groaned. She could stayup here all night and debate the obvious risks of continuing thisliaison and yet none of it mattered because he wanted her and shewanted him.

If she looked at itpragmatically, it would be easy for her to not have any emotionalattachment. But she wanted more. For the first time in a very longtime, she wanted to let go and feel. Of course, the idea scared her,but she was tired of living day in and day out in a state ofnumbness.

Determined, Celeste gave upthe safety of her bedroom. Almost by habit, she found her eyestraveling to her father’s bedroom door. What would he sayabout his daughter getting involved with his golden boy?

Probably rolling in hisgrave, Celeste mused. His own flesh and blood wasn’t even goodenough to live under his roof.

Celeste faltered on thestairs.

What a foolish, ridiculousthought to think now. What was she trying to do? Sabotage everythingshe’d worked so hard for up to this point?

Of course, she couldn’thave timed it any better. Only steps away from temptation and hereshe was beating herself up.

Resolute, she made herselfput one foot in front of the other until she ended up at her frontdoor.

Dressedin a gray wool suit and gray fedora, cocked just so, Shane was a talldrink of water clutching a large bouquet of Christmas roses.Beautiful and fragrant they didn’t hold a candle to the manholding them.

Darn! Every time she laideyes on him, her knees wanted to buckle. Celeste leaned against thedoor frame and allowed him to pass. His cologne, a mixture of mintand bergamot, tickled her senses. Celeste sucked in a deep breath andsighed. The man had a way of scrambling her brains.

Shane held the flowers out.“These are for you.”

Blink…blink…somewhatin a daze, Celeste took them from him, “they’rebeautiful,” she breathed, automatically bringing them to hernose. She inhaled and almost swooned, the blood red petals smelledso sweet. She knew exactly the right place to put them. “I’llput them in my bedroom later,” she said, gently setting theflowers on the foyer table.

She must have said the rightthing. His eyes lit up like a child’s in front of Macy’sstore front window during Christmas.

“May I have your hatand coat?”

Nodding, he shrugged out ofhis overcoat. Celeste noticed the muscles straining against thefabric of his shirt. Lean hipped and broad shouldered, he had aphysique painters searched far and wide to immortalize.

Of course, when she took hisouter garments, she appeared nonchalant on the outside, but on theinside she was quaking. And for the brief moment, she held thegarments, savoring his scent, before placing them in the hall closet.

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”Grinning, he rubbed his hands together. “I skipped lunch so Iwouldn’t spoil dinner.”

Celeste led him into thedining room. “If you’ll have a seat,” she said,patting the back of a chair. She’d set the table so they wouldsit directly across from each other, leaving both heads of the tableempty. “I’ll be right back.”

Celestewaited for him to be seated before retreating into the kitchen. Excited, she grabbed the bottle of Welch’s grape juice, and alarge bowl of salad greens, mixed with olives, tomatoes, and redonions.

Asshe walked back to the dining room, she froze. She looked down atthe bottle of juice reserved for communions and nibbled her bottomlip. Would he make a big deal out of the fact that their dinnerwould be devoid of booze? Would he question why she’d suddenlygone dry?

Wellshe would soon find out soon enough because she couldn’t stayin this kitchen all night.

Without a word, Celesteplaced the bottle of grape juice at his elbow. Already fitted with abottle opener, all he had to do was pop the cap. “Could you dothe honors?”

“Um…yeah…surething,” he said, taking the bottle in hand. Before opening it,he turned it over and read the label.

Cheeks hot withembarrassment, Celeste searched for a plausible excuse. She didn’tthink turning into a holy roller overnight would fly.

“I’m glad youremembered I’m in training.” His gaze lifted and foundhers. Was he blushing? “I like to stay dry a couple months out. People just don’t get it. I’m glad you do.”

Wellwhat could she say to that? Suddenly finding herself in a goodplace, Celeste swept back into the kitchen. She even hummed Bye,Bye Blackbird asshe picked up an oven mitt off the kitchen table.

Celestefroze. Wasn’t it rather cool in here? Celeste eyed the mintgreen Grayson stove in the corner. She’d turned it on beforegoing upstairs to take a bath hadn’t she?

Celeste listened for thecustomary pop the oven emitted in various intervals.

Silence. Absolute silence.

Dismayed, she chewed on herbottom lip. Her perfect evening had suddenly taken a nose dive. Shelooked at her wrist watch. Was Roscoe’s still open at thishour?

Even if they were, it wouldtake her ten minutes to walk the two blocks. Another forty-fiveminutes to place her order and have them cook it from scratch.

“Damn…damn…damn.”Celeste stepped forward, aiming to give the stove a swift kick.

“Why are you cursingat the oven?”

Celeste spun around. Shehadn’t heard him come in. “What are you doing in here?”

“I thought youmight’ve needed some help.” He was so tall and big, heseemed to dwarf the space. And that was saying a lot considering thekitchen was one of the largest spaces in the entire house.

Defeated, Celeste sat downon the foot stool near the back door. “Hold onto your britches. I forgot to turn on the oven.”

Shane glanced over at theoven then back at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

“See for yourself.”Celeste swept her arm toward the cold appliance.

When he walked over to thestove, she jumped up and followed. She couldn’t help being aglutton