An Irresistible Temptation Read Online Free

laughed.
“You look puzzled.”
    “Well, I . . . I guess I thought.” She closed
her mouth. What had she thought? That he’d tell her he was a
stable hand or a horse trader or even a rancher. How odd. Clearly,
he wasn’t a farmer. Hm, he had time to gallop on his horse for
sheer pleasure. Perhaps no gainful employment, yet how did he keep
a fiancée? Whom no one congratulated him on getting?
    “Never mind,” she said, giving a little shrug
and taking another step away from him. She wanted to ask him a
whole host more questions, but he wasn’t her business.
    “Well, you should deliver that cake.”
    “I should,” he agreed, but his eyes were
locked on hers and he wasn’t moving.
    “Yes,” she heard herself say and then,
finally, she turned toward Charlotte’s house. After a few steps,
she felt the urge to look back, certain for some reason that Riley
was standing still, watching her walk away.
    She didn’t turn, but as she passed Drake’s
barn, she considered how quickly Charlotte and Reed’s romance had
heated up in there, according to Charlotte’s telling, and she
hummed to herself.
    If Riley were looking at her, she would think
it a small binding on the tatters of her heart that such a
devilishly handsome man might have some small interest in her. She
decided to hold on to that thought rather than turn her head and
look.
     
    *****
     
    Riley watched her until she was out of his
sight. He had been unable to resist going into Fuller’s after he
saw her through the window. Shit! Why had he wasted his time
talking about lemon cake that he would end up eating himself, since
Eliza hated citrus? He should have asked Sophie the million
questions going through his mind, like what hocus-pocus she was
using that made his mouth go dry each time he saw her.
    And how in the heck was he going to stay away
from her when all he wanted was to get closer?
     
     

Chapter Three

     
    The knock on her front door could only mean
one thing, Sarah had brought more food. Reluctantly, Sophie lifted
her fingers from the piano keys. At this rate, she would be as big
as Charlotte in her last month before she’d given birth to
Emory.
    “Come in,” she called out, rising from the
stool. But even before she exited the parlor, she had a feeling it
wasn’t Sarah—a feeling and the wafting scent of some floral
perfume.
    Sure enough, standing in her front hall was a
petite woman with hair in the fairest shade of blond that Sophie
had ever seen, all in ringlets. After getting over the shock of
what seemed to be an angel’s visitation, Sophie settled her gaze on
the crystalline blue eyes, so light compared to her own, that were
carefully taking in their surroundings.
    Sophie had the absurd notion that this
delicate creature was lost, perhaps fallen off a cloud and ending
up on her doorstep.
    “Can I help you?”
    “Well, it’s I who should be offering you
help. I hear you’ve been in Spring City for three days and I’d yet
to meet you or welcome you.”
    “Oh, well, how kind.” Sophie had heard of a
welcome wagon that came round when someone moved to a new territory
or city. “But I’m not staying long. I don’t need any help.”
    The woman laughed, a sweet tinkling sound and
her curls shook as she did so. Sophie failed to see what was
amusing.
    “I’m Eliza. Eliza Prentice” She said it as if
Sophie should know the name. “Perhaps you’ve heard of me. Or my
father?”
    “I’m afraid you have the advantage, Miss
Prentice. I don’t really know anyone in town except the Cuthins.
Would you like to have a cup of tea?” Sarah had made sure Sophie
had a caddy full of tea, enough for a month, and plenty of milk and
honey to go with it.
    “That’s very kind of you, Sophie. Is it all
right if I call you Sophie?”
    It’s a bit late to ask , she thought,
but she said, “Certainly,” and led the way to the kitchen,
gesturing for Eliza to sit at the table. After filling the kettle
and lighting the stove, Sophie turned to