How To Seduce An Heiress: The Reluctant Heiress / Pride After Her Fall / Project: Runaway Heiress

“I’m a workaholic, I suppose,” he said, stretching out his long legs. “I haven’t ever been deeply in love,” he admitted. “I don’t feel ready for marriage or getting tied down. Right now, my life is devoted to my work.”

“Pretty ordinary attitude when someone is tied up in work,” she stated.

As he gazed into her eyes, he wondered what it would be like to come home to her every night—to make love to her night and day. His thoughts surprised him. Sophia stirred him in a way no woman before her ever had. He had never had long-term thoughts or speculation about a woman before. Not even when he had been in a relationship. “I owe you an elegant dinner and dancing instead of sitting at my house and eating my cooking and helping me hang your painting,” he said, trying to get focused again on the present and stop imagining a future with her. That kind of thinking disturbed him. Because it was totally uncustomary.

“I’m enjoying the evening. You don’t owe me an elegant dinner,” she said. “This has been nice and you’re an interesting man, Garrett Cantrell.”

Garrett smiled at her. “You barely know me. And I lead an ordinary life.”

“Why do I doubt that statement? You’ve bought two of my paintings. That alone makes you interesting.”

“Next time we go to your house and I get to see where you paint,” he said.

“It’s a typical studio with brushes and paint smears. I don’t think it’s quite as interesting as your workshop.”

“If it’s yours, it’s interesting. Have you painted all your life?”

“Actually, yes. I loved drawing and painting. Of course, what little girl doesn’t?”

As she talked about painting when she was a child, his mind returned to the problem. He hated not telling her about the Delaneys, yet he had heard the bitterness, felt her anger smoldering. He wanted to be up front with her—his guilt was deepening by the minute.

He realized she was staring at him with a quizzical smile. “What?” he asked.

“You haven’t heard one word I’ve been saying, Garrett. Is there something you want to tell me? What are you thinking about?”

He focused on her lips before looking into her eyes again while desire consumed him. He didn’t want to admit the truth yet and the burden of guilt was becoming unbearable, but one way to avoid both was to stop her questions with kisses

Three (#ulink_5fef8202-b8c7-53c9-a119-211a39c9c6dd)

Sophia gazed at Garrett, waiting for an answer to her question, wondering what he had on his mind. Was it his business that had him so lost in his own thoughts?

Was it her?

“Garrett, what is it?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

Lust was blatant, causing her pulse to race. Perhaps it was her.

He leaned close, slipping his arm around her waist to pull her to him, ending her questions as his mouth covered hers. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She inhaled, winding her arms around his neck while she kissed him in return. When he pulled her onto his lap, she was barely aware of moving.

He wound his fingers in her hair and she clung to him. Her body tingled, an aching need beginning. She moaned softly as he ran his hand down her back, over the curve of her hip to her thighs. He pushed the hem of her skirt higher to touch her bare skin. Hot, urgent longing consumed her. Her fingers worked free the remaining buttons of his shirt and she pushed it away to touch his sculpted chest. She ran her fingers lower over his muscled stomach. The touch caused the fires within her to blaze. She gasped over caressing him, realizing she had to stop or she would be lost in lovemaking, complicating her life in a manner she had always intended to avoid. She had never slept with a man and she didn’t intend to take that step now.

She caught his wrist and raised her head. “This is crazy, Garrett. I barely know you. We’re going too fast.”

“We’re getting to know each other, and I’d say the chemistry is pretty hot.” As he talked, he ran both hands through her hair on either side of her face. “You’re beautiful. You take my breath away. Sophia, I want to make love to you,” he whispered hoarsely.

Her heart thudded but she forced herself to slide off his lap. “Let’s take a breather and slow things down,” she said, standing to face him.

He stood, his desire obvious. His shirt was unbuttoned to the waist and pushed open to reveal his broad, muscled, masculine chest. Her mouth was dry and she had to fight the urge to fling her arms around his neck and kiss him again.

“I haven’t felt this way about anyone before,” he said, sounding surprised, frowning slightly as if he weren’t happy about it.

“Please sit, Sophia. We’ll just talk,” he said.

She sat, turning so she could face him. The moment he was seated, he wrapped his fingers in her hair. “We can sit and talk, but I can’t keep from touching you.”

“Garrett, I meant it when I said I’m not into affairs.

I watched my mother shed a million tears over my father. I won’t put myself in that position.”

“I can understand that completely. But we’re not having an affair. We’re kissing.”

“I know. But things are escalating quickly,” she said.

“Well, now I’m duly warned about your feelings,” he said with a smile.

“I figure it’s better to be forthright and upfront with you. Why are you smiling?”

“I didn’t mean to. You just remind me of a friend who is forthright,” he replied, combing his fingers slowly through her hair, caressing her nape and then picking up long strands to wind them in his fingers again. “Sophia, I already feel as if I’ve known you a long time.”

“I like that,” she said, trying to focus on their conversation, yet more aware of his hand lightly toying with her hair.

“So. Let’s talk. Do you have other relatives?” he asked. “Did your mother have any brothers or sisters?”

“I have two aunts, one uncle and eight cousins, all scattered around this part of Texas. I see them at family events, but otherwise, we haven’t been that close since she’s been gone. I never knew my father’s family, nor did I want to,” she said coldly.

“You might be making a mistake there,” Garrett said.

Sophia felt her blood turn to ice, and she glared at Garrett. “No, I’m not. His family was the reason he wouldn’t marry my mother. I don’t want to know them or have anything to do with any part of him.”

“Sophia, you’re part of him. And they couldn’t help being part of him any more than you could.”

She hadn’t ever thought about how innocent they were of what their father did, and the thought startled her, but she pushed it away. His sons were still his blood. “Even so, they grew up with him. They have his name and he’s honored them.” Why did Garrett keep taking Argus’s side? She disliked talking about her father or even thinking about him. “Garrett, let’s find something else to discuss. Do you have any other hobbies besides the furniture?”

“Sure. I work out. I ski. I play tennis, play polo and I swim. You?”

“More things we have in common. I love rodeos, country dances. I also like to ski, swim and I play the piano,” she answered.

“With the storms that have gone through recently, they’ve already had enough freezing weather in the upper levels of Colorado mountains to ski. Fly up there with me for the weekend. We can leave early in the morning and come back Sunday evening.”

“You’re serious,” she said, surprised by his invitation.

“Why not? We’ll have fun, ski, nothing big. Just a fun getaway. My condo is large. You can take your pick of bedrooms.”

“You are serious.” A weekend with Garrett. Excitement bubbled and she wanted to accept, yet common sense reminded her again to slow down with him. He had come into her life like a whirlwind.

He leaned closer and held her chin. “Come with me. No strings. I’ll bring you home anytime you want. We’ll ski, relax, talk. Do whatever we want.”