Tis the Season to Be Sinful Read Online Free Page A

thick lashes that should have softened his face, yet somehow this touch of refinement gave him the look of classic masculine beauty.
    His shoulders were broad, his arms well muscled, his height impressive. Juliet was tall for a woman, but he towered over her by almost six inches, making her feel small and delicate, two things she most definitely was not.
    “I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, gentlemen,” Juliet said finally in a steady, well-modulated tone. Having read that Americans preferred a more informal manner, she briefly considered offering her hand in greeting. Yet knowing full well she could ill afford another faux pas, she tugged her finger abruptly away from the hair at her nape and pressed her arms firmly to her sides. “I must apologize for my earlier outburst, gentlemen. Obviously I thought you were intruders intent on larceny.”
    “Fascinating,” Mr. Harper drawled. “I never would have surmised that the thieves in this part of the country are so skilled they have time to relax and enjoy a drink in the home of their victims before absconding with their pilfered loot. I shall have to remember that if I decide to take up residence in this community.”
    His voice was deep and rich with an unusual accent Juliet found pleasing to the ear. If only his words were the same. She felt her hand start to stray up to her neck and forcibly pulled it down. She would not succumb to nerves again. “Truly, Mr. Harper, there is no need to worry,” she responded with a light laugh. “Crime is almost nonexistent in this area.”
    “Really?” His brow rose fractionally. “One would hardly assume that to be the case, given your initial reaction when you entered the library.”
    Juliet felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. “My panic was the result of an overactive imagination, I fear,” she offered weakly. “And too long living on my own.”
    She braced for the next remark, her mouth tightening as she met his gaze.
    “Perfectly understandable,” Mr. Harper replied, pulling up a slight smile that actually appeared apologetic. “In any event, I am pleased to meet the owner of such a fine property.”
    Touched by his surprising generosity, Juliet relaxed, her heart settling back to a normal beat. His words brimmed with sincerity, renewing her hope that all was not lost. “I am only temporarily in charge of the estate. Highgrove belongs to my elder son. As his legal guardian, I am responsible for maintaining the estate until he comes of age.”
    “A grave responsibility,” Mr. Harper observed, taking a step closer to her.
    “Yes, and one I take most seriously.” Juliet’s stomach fluttered in a most disconcerting manner and her pulse jumped. If he leased the property, they would become neighbors, running into each other at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Eventually, they might also become friends. Juliet swallowed hard. It was a surprisingly appealing idea.
    “As guardian to your son, I assume the very last thing you want is to saddle him with a debt-ridden property,” Mr. Harper offered, his expression sympathetic.
    Unexpected tears pricked at Juliet’s eyes. The lack of funds had been her greatest frustration, her single biggest worry since becoming a widow. The last thing she wanted Edward to face was the uncertainty of debt, the worries over money that kept a person awake at night and distracted during the day. “I want only the best for him and his brother and sister.”
    “And I have the means to assist you in achieving that goal. The manor house needs considerable work, an expense I assume you cannot undertake?” He lifted a brow, then continued, even though she had not answered. “I, therefore, propose purchasing the estate instead of renting it. That will allow me to renovate and redecorate as I wish, and relieve you, and your son, of any future expenses. In the end, it will be a better bargain for both of us.”
    It took a few seconds for comprehension to strike, and when