Tycoon's One-Night Revenge Read Online Free

off,” he said, following her through to the living room. “Make yourself at home. I’ll pour your—”
    “This isn’t a social visit,” she replied crisply, still walking, circling the room as if she couldn’t decide where to plant her sexy heels. “No wine for me.”
    “So it’s business.” Van deposited glass and bottle on the table. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think you’d have managed to talk Carlisle around in such a short time.”
    That brought her up short in front of a leather sofa. She didn’t sit. Shoulders straight and chin high, she turned to face him. “I haven’t spoken to Alex yet. I may not be able to reach him until Monday.”
    Van settled his hips against the edge of the dining table and crossed his arms across his chest. Playtime was over…for now. “You can’t reach your fiancé on weekends?”
    “He isn’t answering any of his phones, which means he is not in his office or at his home. I will continue to try his cell, but if he’s out of the coverage area—” she shrugged “—there’s nothing else I can do.”
    “Convenient.”
    “Not particularly,” she countered without missing a beat, although her gaze sharpened as his barb found its mark. “I would prefer if I could reach him.”
    “How about your mother? Is she answering any of her phones?”
    “Yes, I have spoken with her and she told me about your call last weekend. I’m sorry that she didn’t tell me about that and I’m even more sorry that she mislead you about my engagement.”
    Van studied her closely for a second. Playtime was definitely over. “Are you telling me you’re not engaged to Alex Carlisle?”
    “I wasn’t in July. I am now.” Her gaze narrowed on his. “Why do I get the feeling that you don’t believe me?”
    “Because, apart from your mother, I haven’t managed to find anyone who knows about it. Scores of mentions of you and Carlisle in business and society columns, yet no mention of pending nuptials.”
    “Which is exactly the way we like it,” she said with bite. Then, as if annoyed with that minishow of temper, she pressed her lips together and composed herself before continuing in a more measured tone. “Both our families are high profile, especially the Carlisles, and we don’t want a media circus surrounding our wedding plans. Alex decided—we both decided,” she amended quickly, “not to make an announcement until after we’re married.”
    “And when will that be?”
    For the first time, her eyes shifted nervously and she lifted a hand—her left hand—in a vague fluttery gesture. “I…we haven’t settled on a definite date.”
    Van’s eyes shifted to her hand and a grim punch of satisfaction drove him to his feet. “Soon?”
    “Yes,” she said, her uneasy gaze steadying and settling. “Very soon.”

    Ever since he’d opened the door, Susannah had been at a distinct disadvantage. Everything from the carelessly knotted robe, to the teasing glint in his eyes, to the suggestion they get naked together in the hot tub, rang with unwanted memories. Inside the villa it was even worse. How could she concentrate when every place they’d kissed, touched and ended up naked was right in front of her eyes?
    Of course she’d forced herself to keep those eyes stoically trained on his face, and the tricky nuances of their dialogue had managed to push everything—including his lack of clothes—to the fringes of her mind.
    Until now.
    As he moved closer, the edges of her vision and the core of her senses swam with the knowledge of how little he wore and how exposed she felt. Her heartbeat thickened and bumped painfully hard against her ribs. She didn’t know what he wanted, why he’d suddenly shoved to his feet, why that narrowed gaze had suddenly focussed so intently on her—
    “Why aren’t you wearing a ring?”
    Susannah stared back at him. She opened her mouth, found no answer and shut it again. In that beat of time, he picked up her left hand.
    “Isn’t that