Less-than-Innocent Invitation Read Online Free

leaving.
    Swallowing hard, Melissa’s eyes locked with his. Oh, how she’d loved this man. “Yes,” she whispered.
    Logan lowered his head, his lips lingering just above hers. “Then you remember just how good we were together.”
    Her gaze drifted lower to his mouth. “Oh, Logan.”
    At that moment the door to the ballroom whisked open. Logan straightened and stepped away from her as a man entered the foyer and walked hurriedly toward them.
    What the hell was he doing? He had no business even thinking about kissing Melissa Mason. He’d let hisheart get tangled up with her before and their relationship had ended badly. Hadn’t he learned his lesson?
    Apparently not. After only a few minutes in her company, his mind had drifted to the memories of touching her.
    Kissing her.
    He wanted to know if she tasted as sweet as he remembered.
    No, it was more than curiosity. Dancing with her had stirred up all kinds of emotions inside him, made him aware of her in ways that time had blurred.
    â€œMelissa, there you are!”
    â€œDaniel!” Expelling a breath, Melissa turned away from Logan as her producer approached, relieved he’d chosen that moment to find her.
    After all the years apart from Logan, she never would have dreamed she’d give in so easily to him again, but God knows, if left alone a minute longer, she would have kissed him. Now that she knew she wasn’t immune to him, she’d keep her distance until she could get out of town.
    She gestured toward him. “This is an old friend of mine, Logan Voss. Logan, Daniel Graves. He’s the story producer for the feature on Royal’s anniversary.”
    â€œMr. Voss.”
    Logan held out his hand. “Call me Logan,” he told the man as he tried to absorb Melissa’s description of him as an “old friend.” It stung more than it should have.
    Daniel clasped his hand with a firm grip. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    â€œI hope you’re enjoying yourself at the ball,” Logan said as he studied the man. Twice his own age, DanielGraves was thin and wiry with a nervous energy that made him look as if he was fidgeting even while he stood still.
    â€œI am.” He turned toward Melissa, his eyes wide with excitement. “And I’ve just heard the most exciting news. I was talking to one of the guests and heard that some of Jessamine Golden’s personal belongings have turned up at an auction!”
    â€œYes, I know. I heard about it when I arrived in town yesterday and I have notes on it,” Melissa told him. “Apparently they auctioned off a saddle bag and a few other things. I was going to discuss the information with you on our trip back to Houston.”
    â€œSo you already know about the map?” Daniel asked.
    Melissa frowned. “I know there was a map of some kind, but I fail to see what you’re so excited about.”
    â€œInside the saddlebag was a treasure map.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Daniel, please don’t tell me you’re falling for that tale,” she scoffed.
    The producer ignored her remark and turned to Logan. “You don’t seem to be surprised.”
    Shaking his head, he replied, “The legend of Jessamine Golden burying a cache of gold bars somewhere around here has been circulating for years. The map and the rest of her items are on display at the Historical Society Museum.” The common thought among his friends at the Cattleman’s Club was that if Jessamine had indeed heisted the gold, the map was proof she’d intended to come back for it. Something must have prevented her from returning.
    â€œI hope to see them while I’m here,” Daniel stated.
    Logan settled back into a comfortable stance. “One of my friends, Jake Thorne, donated them to the museum after he bought them at the auction.”
    â€œThe same Jake Thorne who’s running for mayor?” Melissa