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

He had to stay and confess his ties to the Delaneys to Sophia.

Not one thing about meeting Sophia had turned out the way he had expected. The most certain thing he knew, though, was that he wanted her with him. He missed her and wanted her in his arms and in his bed right now. He conjured up the memory of her spinning around in the snow, big flakes on her silky black hair and lashes and coat, her smile, her bubbling enthusiasm and zest for life. He ached to hold her again and he would remember the weekend all his life.

Would the truth destroy his budding relationship with Sophia? Or could he make her see how much he wanted to be with her even though he had kept this secret from her?

He had basically lied to her about who he was. How could he make it up to her? Would she even let him try?

Sophia tossed restlessly in bed. She missed Garrett, but she was annoyed with herself for reacting in such a manner. The weekend still dazzled her, memories bubbling up constantly that enveloped her and carried her away. Garrett had changed her feelings about intimacy. Had her feelings for Garrett become so strong, she was changing her basic views of life?

They would be together again in less than twenty-four hours. He would have stayed tonight if she had let him. Those two things made her wonder: Was she rushing headlong into a life like her mother’s? Had Garrett so easily demolished all the barriers she kept around her heart?

Realizing that she needed a distraction from thinking about Garrett, she switched on a light and got up to paint, losing herself in her task and driving all thought of him away until morning came.

Monday night she dressed eagerly, trying various outfits and finally selecting a red crepe blouse with a low-cut rounded neckline and straight skirt that had a slit on one side. She pinned the sides of her hair up, letting it fall in the back.

Her pulse raced with anticipation and she was impatient to see him.

When she greeted him, he stepped inside and swept her into his arms. Words were lost as he kissed her. She locked her arms around him and kissed him in return.

Finally she stepped back. “Another minute and I won’t look presentable to go out to dinner.”

“That’s impossible.” He held her waist and stepped back to look at her. “You’re beautiful, just perfect.”

“I think you’re the perfect one,” she said, thinking his charcoal suit made his gray eyes appear darker. “I’m ready.”

“So am I,” he said in a husky voice, referring to more than just dinner.

“We’re going to dinner. You promised,” she reminded him.

“Yes, I did. We’ll go eat and then we’re coming back here and I’m going to kiss you the way I want to.”

His words made her tingle and she smiled at him.

He took her arm to escort her to a sleek black sports car. She was surprised it wasn’t his chauffeur and his limousine, wondering why he preferred driving. Was it because he expected to stay at her house a long time tonight when he took her home?

She wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about that, despite the desire for him that had been burning through her since they’d last made love.

They drove through posts and a wrought-iron fence, winding up a drive past splashing fountains and tall pines with lights high in the branches. As they stopped in front of a canopied walk and he gave the keys to a valet, he took her arm. Lights twinkled in all the bushes and over the restaurant, creating a festive atmosphere.

Inside, a large bouquet of four dozen red and yellow roses in a sparkling crystal vase on a marble table stood in the center of the entryway. A maître d’ met them, talked briefly to Garrett and led them to a table in a secluded corner that overlooked the dance floor on one side and a terrace on the other. Beyond the terrace were sloping grounds to a well-lit pond with more lights in the trees. Soft piano music played and a few couples were already on the small dance floor.

“I’ve never eaten here before, Garrett. I’ve heard of this place, but just haven’t been here. It’s lovely.”

“The food is great. I think you’ll like it.” A candle flickered in the center of the linen-covered table. Garrett reached across to take her hand. Candlelight was reflected in his gray eyes and her gaze dropped to his mouth. “The weekend was special,” he said in a husky voice.

“It was for me, you know that,” she replied breathlessly, studying him as he watched her. He had one of the most interesting faces and she wished he would let her paint his portrait. The only problem was that she would want to keep it, and that was the last thing she needed in her house right now, especially if she was trying to slow things down.

“I brought you something to remind you of the weekend and to let you know that it was special for me,” he said, handing her a small package.

Surprised, she looked up and smiled. “How sweet you are. You know you didn’t need to do this.”

She untied a silver ribbon and then unwrapped blue paper on a small box. When she opened it, another velvet box was inside. She removed it and took out a thin gold filigree bracelet.

“Garrett, it’s beautiful,” she said, touched and surprised. She looked up at him and then took it out to slip it on, turning her wrist as the candlelight highlighted the gold. “Thank you. It’s lovely and I’ll treasure it.”

“Enjoy it, Sophia, and remember the fun we had.”

“Of course I will,” she said, picking up his hand and leaning forward to brush a light kiss across his knuckles. He inhaled, his chest expanding while desire burned in the depths of his eyes.

All through dinner and later as they danced, desire kept her tingly. Dancing with him was as much fun as everything else. She enjoyed the fast dances; the slow dancing was sexy, tantalizing, making her want to love again. When they stopped and she looked up to meet his gaze, he appeared to be thinking about the same thing she’d been thinking about.

Garrett had a thick steak while she had lobster tail with white wine. Her appetite fled as she watched him in the flickering candlelight. Garrett had ensnared her heart. There was no way she could keep things light with him or hold to her resolution to avoid a relationship. He was important to her and he turned her insides out just looking at him.

By ten, when Garrett asked her if she was ready to leave, she nodded.

At her house, she invited Garrett inside.

“You’ve had the tour, so would you like a drink—a cup of hot chocolate, soda?”

“If you have iced tea, I’ll take that.”

“Two iced teas it is,” she said, heading for the kitchen. She crossed the room to get out glasses.

“Have a seat and I’ll get our drinks. We can go where it’s more comfortable.”

Garrett moved closer and turned her to face him. “Sophia,” he said in a husky voice, and her heart skipped. He leaned down to kiss her while his arm held her waist tightly.

The moment he touched her, her insides clenched and her pulse jumped. She hugged him tightly in return while her intentions to say no to making love vanished.

Nothing seemed as important as kissing and loving him.

“Now you’ll have to show me a bedroom,” he said, kissing her throat.

“There’s one down the hall on this floor,” she said, taking his hand to lead him to the bedroom where he stood her on her feet as he continued kissing her. His hands moved deftly over zippers and buttons, and her skirt floated to her ankles where she stepped out of it.

“This time we’re taking it nice and slow,” he said, taking time to shower kisses on her. He loved her with deliberation, trying to pleasure her and heighten desire every way he could until she was writhing beneath his touch, aching for him.

“Garrett, come here,” she whispered, reaching for him.

He slipped on a condom and lowered himself, slowly filling her, withdrawing and entering again while she arched beneath him.

His loving was slow, a sweet torment that fanned the fires he had already ignited.

He was beaded with sweat, trying to maintain control until finally he let go and loved furiously.

She cried out as she climaxed and in seconds he shuddered with his release.

Gradually her heartbeat returned to normal and her breathing grew quiet. They helped each other up and went to shower together, drying each other off only to return to bed. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her while he combed her hair with his fingers.