LOGINThe bottle slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft thud on the counter. Her heart lurched into her throat as she spun around, eyes wide.Leo.He stood in the doorway of her kitchen, casually leaning against the frame, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. His dark eyes were locked on her, that same predatory look she’d seen before, as if he enjoyed watching her squirm.“Jesus Christ, Leo!” she gasped, clutching the counter to steady herself. Her pulse was racing, the sudden rush of adrenaline making her lightheaded. “You really have to stop doing that. What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes swept over the room, taking in every detail, as if he owned the place. He stepped forward, his gaze returning to her, amusement dancing in his eyes. “So many questions. I have my ways,” he said smoothly, walking further into the kitchen. “You look like you’ve been busy.”She stared at him, her heart still pounding in h
“I want to see you naked, Suzy,” he told her gruffly as one of his hands moved to the zip on her jumpsuit, “Naked and wanton!” She felt hot, feverish—she was making out with Leo! Had she forgotten who he was? “No!” She pulled out of his arms, her expression one of panic as he reached for her again. “Let me go,” she instructed coldly.Puzzlement darkened his eyes at her vehemence, but he sat back in his own seat, his hands held up defensively. “Think all you want of me, but I've never tried to force a woman,” he assured her raggedly.She knew he had never needed to, that his brand of lovemaking could become addictive. “I know that,” she conceded shakily, shaking back the swathe of her hair. “I—it was a mistake, that's all.”Leo shook his head, his eyes steely. “I don't make mistakes, Suzy. I want you. And a minute ago you wanted me too—”“No,” she denied heartedly. “I told you, it was a mistake. I have to go in now.” She swallowed hard, wishing she had found the strength to go in ear
“What does it all mean?” She frowned when he at last straightened, wiping his hands on a cloth from his pocket.The young man shrugged. “It means I'm going to have to tow your car back to the garage and work on it there.”That's what she had thought it meant! “Thank you,” she sighed. “I suppose I'd better go and call a taxi—”“No need for that,” cut in a voice that really was beginning to grate on her nerves.Susan turned to Leo with icy eyes. “What?” she bit out resignedly.He strolled over to join them, enjoying a few minutes' consultation with the mechanic about her car before acknowledging her presence once again. “I'll drive you home,” he stated arrogantly. “I have my car over there.” He nodded in the direction of his car.“Like hell—”“Whew, some of these women aren't at all as cool and ladylike as they all like to make out,” he confided in the mechanic. “They aren't forgiving either.”“What—”“I offer to drive her home as an olive-branch after our argument and she throws it ba
She could feel him watching her as she walked to the doorway, a tingle of awareness down her spine, telling herself she mustn't look back, that she shouldn't give him that satisfaction. It was a compulsion, instinct, and she paused in the doorway to turn and look at Leo one more time.Leo was ordering himself another drink, his attention turning to Susan as he saw her standing in the doorway watching him. He gave her a mocking acknowledgement with his head, laughter in his eyes as Susan gave him a fierce glare before turning away.She was still fuming when she swung into her car, her bag landing with a thud on the seat beside her. Who did he think he was, trying to pick her up in that way! Especially after everything he'd done. No man had ever tried to pick her up in a bar before. Or so nearly succeeded! If she was being honest with herself, she'd admit that there was something about Leo that was extremely appealing, his rakish charm a challenge, his almost casual confidence in his o
As the bartender nodded and began mixing her drink, Susan’s mind raced. She was playing a dangerous game with Leo, and she knew it. But every time she thought she was ready to walk away, something pulled her back. Maybe it was the fear of what would happen to Samuel. Maybe it was something else. Something about him.The bartender placed her drink in front of her, and Susan took a long sip, the alcohol burning its way down her throat. The buzz settled into her veins, calming her nerves for a brief moment. But the tension was still there, lingering just beneath the surface. And deep down, she knew it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. __________Leo hadn’t expected Susan to take him up on his offer, not with how furious she’d been when she stormed out of the lounge. But as he watched her from the shadows, standing there at the top of the stairs, he noticed something flicker in her. Her steps faltered, and instead of heading straight for the door like she had intended, she veered toward t
I’ll return them tomorrow. Get the real money back.That was the plan. She had to stick to the plan. But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning. Leo wouldn’t stop at five thousand. He’d expect more. And as much as she wanted to scream, to run from it all, she knew she couldn’t. Not while Samuel was still tangled in Leo’s Web, and now so was she. As she finally pulled into her driveway, Susan sat in the car for a moment, her hands still gripping the steering wheel, her heart pounding in her chest. She was in too deep now, and there was no turning back.____________The Summit nightclub was eerily silent when Susan walked in. The usual pulse of loud music and vibrant chatter was absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness. The place was empty—no patrons, no bartenders buzzing around. She walked on, her heels clinking against the floor as she began to climb the stairs that led to the private lounge. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was in the right place, but then h
He did have her try on numerous wedding dresses before finally approving some white silk and tulle concoction, accented with gilt thread, that Anna told herself she didn’t care about. Yet at the same time, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she was conscious of a strange ache somewhere deep in
It was the Duke’s fault, of course. All of this was his fault. If he hadn’t been the man she'd met beside the lake, the man who’d made her lose her temper and nearly slap him. If he hadn’t been that man, then none of this would have been a problem.She would have accepted his proposal without if no
A lump rose in her throat. She’d loved her father, but he hadn’t loved her. He’d never said it to her, hadn’t ever demonstrated it to her. She’d been the baby he hadn’t wanted, the child that had ruined his career. A lasting reminder of what his beloved wife had wanted and didn’t survive long enoug
You can’t refuse the Duke. Not if it means leaving your father like this. No, it was true. They needed the money too urgently. Her father needed better care and, since she was the reason he was sitting in this chair, his career—his whole life—in ruins, then it made only logical sense for her to be







