Seven-Year Seduction Read Online Free Page A

a secret no one else knew.
    He did, of course. He knew what they’d done afterthe football game all those years ago, up at Makeout Point. She doubted he’d ever told anyone, though. She certainly hadn’t.
    â€œHey, Beth. I meant to tell you earlier that you’re looking good. L.A. must be treating you right.”
    She nodded. He didn’t need to know about the small ulcer she’d developed from eighteen-hour workdays and a demanding clientele, or the antacids she kept in her purse for the occasional flare-up.
    As far as the residents of Crystal Springs were concerned, she’d gone off to California and become a huge success. There was no sense in telling them things weren’t always as silver lined as they seemed.
    â€œWould you like to dance?” Connor asked when another slow song began to fill the reception hall.
    With him? Definitely not. She opened her mouth to politely refuse, but he already had his hand curled around her upper arm, steering her into his embrace, and her brother seemed more than willing to pass her off.
    â€œGreat,” Nick said. “You dance with Connor, and I’ll get back to Karen.”
    â€œShe’s got you on a tight leash already, huh?” Connor joked, throwing her brother a guy-to-guy grin.
    â€œYou should try it sometime,” Nick replied, tossing his friend an equally teasing smile before sauntering off.
    It would have caused a scene if she’d pulled away and returned to the table at that point, even though that’s exactly what she wanted to do. Instead, she continued smiling and allowed Connor to put an arm at her waist, entwine his fingers with hers.
    Because she didn’t have a choice, she slid her free hand up to rest on his shoulder. The heat of his body pulsed through the fine wool of his tuxedo jacket, setting her palm to tingling.
    She muttered a colorful oath under her breath, annoyed that he could still have any sort of impact on her, even a purely physical one.
    And that’s all it was—the physiological response of her female body to the nearness of such an attractive, obviously male body. Their shared history added to her body’s response, but it didn’t mean anything. Nothing at all.
    â€œHow have you been, Beth? I hear you’ve done well for yourself out there in la-la land.”
    â€œI’m doing all right,” she said shortly. “And you?”
    â€œCouldn’t be better. Nick probably told you the company’s doing well, keeping us both busy. Things slow down in the winter, of course, which is the only reason I’m letting him take off on this two-week honeymoon of his.”
    He shot her a wide, sparkling grin. She didn’t respond.
    â€œSo what do you think about your big brother finally tying the knot?”
    â€œIt’s about time, I say. They’ve only been dating since they were in diapers.”
    â€œYeah. Makes you wonder, though, how much longer he’d have put it off if Karen hadn’t surprised him with her little announcement.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Beth told him, trying not to get too drawn in to the conversation…or the warmth of hishold on her…or the lulling sensation of the music and moving around the dance floor with him. “I think Nick just needed an excuse to jump in with both feet. He’s been wanting to marry Karen since they were teenagers, but he had all those typical male fears and insecurities. They fell into a comfortable pattern after high school that kept him from having to put his heart on the line until now.”
    Connor was still smiling, that stupid boy-next-door smile that reminded her of exactly why she’d moved as far across the country as possible after her graduation from law school.
    â€œThat’s awfully philosophical for a gal who spends her days reading contracts and suing production companies,” he remarked.
    â€œLawyers can be philosophical,” she volleyed back.