Heidi Betts – How To Seduce An Heiress: The Reluctant Heiress / Pride After Her Fall / Project: Runaway Heiress (страница 9)

Three

Sophia gazed at Garrett, waiting for an answer to her question, wondering what he had on his mind. Was it his business that had him so lost in his own thoughts?

Was it her?

“Garrett, what is it?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

Lust was blatant, causing her pulse to race. Perhaps it was her.

He leaned close, slipping his arm around her waist to pull her to him, ending her questions as his mouth covered hers. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She inhaled, winding her arms around his neck while she kissed him in return. When he pulled her onto his lap, she was barely aware of moving.

He wound his fingers in her hair and she clung to him. Her body tingled, an aching need beginning. She moaned softly as he ran his hand down her back, over the curve of her hip to her thighs. He pushed the hem of her skirt higher to touch her bare skin. Hot, urgent longing consumed her. Her fingers worked free the remaining buttons of his shirt and she pushed it away to touch his sculpted chest. She ran her fingers lower over his muscled stomach. The touch caused the fires within her to blaze. She gasped over caressing him, realizing she had to stop or she would be lost in lovemaking, complicating her life in a manner she had always intended to avoid. She had never slept with a man and she didn’t intend to take that step now.

She caught his wrist and raised her head. “This is crazy, Garrett. I barely know you. We’re going too fast.”

“We’re getting to know each other, and I’d say the chemistry is pretty hot.” As he talked, he ran both hands through her hair on either side of her face. “You’re beautiful. You take my breath away. Sophia, I want to make love to you,” he whispered hoarsely.

Her heart thudded but she forced herself to slide off his lap. “Let’s take a breather and slow things down,” she said, standing to face him.

He stood, his desire obvious. His shirt was unbuttoned to the waist and pushed open to reveal his broad, muscled, masculine chest. Her mouth was dry and she had to fight the urge to fling her arms around his neck and kiss him again.

“I haven’t felt this way about anyone before,” he said, sounding surprised, frowning slightly as if he weren’t happy about it.

“Please sit, Sophia. We’ll just talk,” he said.

She sat, turning so she could face him. The moment he was seated, he wrapped his fingers in her hair. “We can sit and talk, but I can’t keep from touching you.”

“Garrett, I meant it when I said I’m not into affairs.

I watched my mother shed a million tears over my father. I won’t put myself in that position.”

“I can understand that completely. But we’re not having an affair. We’re kissing.”

“I know. But things are escalating quickly,” she said.

“Well, now I’m duly warned about your feelings,” he said with a smile.

“I figure it’s better to be forthright and upfront with you. Why are you smiling?”

“I didn’t mean to. You just remind me of a friend who is forthright,” he replied, combing his fingers slowly through her hair, caressing her nape and then picking up long strands to wind them in his fingers again. “Sophia, I already feel as if I’ve known you a long time.”

“I like that,” she said, trying to focus on their conversation, yet more aware of his hand lightly toying with her hair.

“So. Let’s talk. Do you have other relatives?” he asked. “Did your mother have any brothers or sisters?”

“I have two aunts, one uncle and eight cousins, all scattered around this part of Texas. I see them at family events, but otherwise, we haven’t been that close since she’s been gone. I never knew my father’s family, nor did I want to,” she said coldly.

“You might be making a mistake there,” Garrett said.

Sophia felt her blood turn to ice, and she glared at Garrett. “No, I’m not. His family was the reason he wouldn’t marry my mother. I don’t want to know them or have anything to do with any part of him.”

“Sophia, you’re part of him. And they couldn’t help being part of him any more than you could.”

She hadn’t ever thought about how innocent they were of what their father did, and the thought startled her, but she pushed it away. His sons were still his blood. “Even so, they grew up with him. They have his name and he’s honored them.” Why did Garrett keep taking Argus’s side? She disliked talking about her father or even thinking about him. “Garrett, let’s find something else to discuss. Do you have any other hobbies besides the furniture?”

“Sure. I work out. I ski. I play tennis, play polo and I swim. You?”

“More things we have in common. I love rodeos, country dances. I also like to ski, swim and I play the piano,” she answered.

“With the storms that have gone through recently, they’ve already had enough freezing weather in the upper levels of Colorado mountains to ski. Fly up there with me for the weekend. We can leave early in the morning and come back Sunday evening.”

“You’re serious,” she said, surprised by his invitation.

“Why not? We’ll have fun, ski, nothing big. Just a fun getaway. My condo is large. You can take your pick of bedrooms.”

“You are serious.” A weekend with Garrett. Excitement bubbled and she wanted to accept, yet common sense reminded her again to slow down with him. He had come into her life like a whirlwind.

He leaned closer and held her chin. “Come with me. No strings. I’ll bring you home anytime you want. We’ll ski, relax, talk. Do whatever we want.”

Her heartbeat quickened. She was surprised at herself because his offer held some appeal. On the other hand, years of being wary of getting too close to someone were ingrained in her.

“I don’t think flying to Colorado with you is a good idea.”

“Sophia, you’re not going to risk getting hurt by spending the weekend skiing with me. We’re not getting into anything remotely serious.”

“But this is exactly how you get into something serious. Moment after moment together and then it’s too late.”

“Take a risk and live a little. This is simply two days. We’re not going to fall in love over the weekend.”

She blushed. She hadn’t been worried about falling in love.

Had she?

“If you’re worried, we can ask Edgar to join us.”

She couldn’t keep from laughing. “You’re willing to invite Edgar, too?”

“If that’s what it takes to spend the weekend with you, yes, I’ll invite Edgar, too.”

“Now you’re making me feel foolish.”

“That’s not my intention. Listen, I understand why you don’t want to follow in your mother’s footsteps, but I don’t think you run any risk of that happening with me.”

Her eyes widened. “I guess I’ve lumped all males into the same group as my father.”

“I can’t blame you for being hurt, Sophia,” he said solemnly and her heart warmed. He gazed intently at her while she debated, waiting quietly.

“I’ll go with you,” she said, smiling at him.

“Excellent. It’ll be fun. No big deal.”

It was a big deal because she didn’t even spend weekends with men she knew. All she had to go on with Garrett was the information she had received about him from others and her own feelings.

“I’ll tell Edgar I’m going, but we’re not inviting him along. He hates cold weather and he can’t imagine fastening his feet to ‘long boards,’ as he calls them. Thank you, though, for the offer to invite him,” she said.

“Good. I’ll check the weather right now. I don’t fly into storms if I can possibly avoid it.”

She watched as he pulled out his phone. He smiled broadly, sexy creases bracketing his mouth. “Good weather—cold nights, sunny days. I’ll call my pilot. How early can we go?”

“Name your time.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Fine with me,” she said. She’d surprised herself, she thought as eagerness bubbled in a steady current. The weekend with Garrett. Foolhardy, risky for her heart.

Exciting.

Walking away, Garrett talked with the pilot and made arrangements. When he was done, he sat beside her again. “We’re set to fly at eight.”

“So one of your traits is impulsiveness,” she said. “I’m learning more about you.”

“I don’t think I’d describe myself as impulsive. Usually I’m predictable and methodical.”

“If we get to know each other, I’ll weigh in on that.”

“We’ll get to know each other, Sophia,” he said softly in a husky tone that sent a tingle spiraling in her. “I definitely intend that we do.”