Defy the World Tomatoes by Phoebe Conn Page B

something.”
    “Do you expect a bribe?” Darcy felt a strong tug on the string and released a bit more. The kite was way out over the bluff now and dancing against the sun.
    Griffin leaned down and nibbled her right ear. “Stay for dinner. I bought a roasted chicken. You eat those, don’t you?”
    Darcy felt his breath on her cheek and couldn’t recall his question. “Chicken?” she mumbled numbly.
    Griffin kissed her left ear lightly. “Yes, do you like them?”
    He was wrapped around her now, and as snugly as she had imagined — no, hoped. She relaxed against him, and he began to trace teasing circles around the tip of her left breast with his right hand, while his left crept slowly down her stomach toward the sweet spot between her legs. His hips were pressed against her back, and there was no mistaking the intensity of his desire.
    “This is what you had in mind all along, isn’t it?” she nearly moaned.
    “Do you blame me?”
    Darcy dipped her head. She supposed this was simply his usual routine. He would be in town for a few days to give a concert, and if he wanted to connect with a woman, he would waste no time in going about it. Even better than a sailor with a girl in every port, she bet he had women all around the world eagerly awaiting his return.
    “Darcy? What was his name?”
    Startled, Darcy turned to look up at him. “Whose name?”
    “The man who broke your heart.”
    Enfolded in his embrace, Darcy could not recall any of the other men she’d known. “Griffin Moore,” she breathed out softly.
    Griffin released her to reach for the kite string. “Do I frighten you that badly?”
    She’d blurted the truth, and there was no way to take it back now. Instead, she sat on the terrace steps and waited for him to reel in the dragon kite. When he sat beside her, she kept hugging her knees, but she knew exactly what she wanted to say.
    “Now do you see why we ought to stick to business?” she asked.
    “No, things were just getting interesting.” He reached for her hand and rubbed his thumb across her palm.
    Darcy pulled her hand away and laced her fingers together in her lap. “You’re not only famous, you’re amazingly talented. Why would you hole up here and stop playing?”
    “You believe I owe you an explanation for some reason?”
    “Yes, you just had your hands all over me.”
    “And everything has its price?”
    Darcy would have slapped him, but he caught her wrist in mid-air. “I’m not for sale,” she swore through clenched teeth.
    “Calm down, Darcy. I don’t pay for sex. Now, I’m getting hungry. Let’s go inside and have dinner.”
    He’d drawn her to her feet before she could break free of his grasp, but she was still angry. “Is it impossible for you to provide a straight answer?”
    “On an empty stomach it is.” He slid his fingers from her wrist to her hand and led her into the kitchen. “I hope you won’t mind eating at the counter.”
    Astonished by his audacity, Darcy had no interest in food. “I don’t think I can eat.”
    She washed her hands at the sink and splashed water on her face to cool down. Griffin might have switched off his passion, but she could barely control hers. She didn’t even want to wonder what really making love with him would be like when she doubted she would survive. She grabbed a stool, sat and knotted her hands in her lap.
    Griffin washed his hands then yanked open the cavernous refrigerator. “What would you like to drink? I have wine, soda, tea. There might even be a couple of cans of beer in here.”
    “I’ll stick with water.”
    Griffin got out a glass, plunked in some ice cubes and filled it with water. She accepted the glass with shaky hands and then dribbled the water down her chin. “Hey, I thought you were enjoying yourself out there,” he said.
    “I was,” Darcy admitted, “but a little too much.”
    “That’s impossible.” He returned to the refrigerator to hide his smile and quickly removed a roasted