Sweet Talk Boxed Set (Ten NEW Contemporary Romances by Bestselling Authors to Benefit Diabetes Research plus BONUS Novel) (9 page)

“You’re in my home.”

“I am not. I’m in your father’s home. But what would that matter anyway?”

“It doesn’t.”

He turned and strode away, leaving her more confused than ever before. What in the hell was going on?

Shaking her head, she decided to brush it all off, and went inside her room. She needed to focus on getting ready, and she refused to feel any guilt about going out.

No, she didn’t have anything fancy enough for an evening at the theater, and she felt a little self-conscious as she got dressed. The only item that worked, or seemed to, was her classic little black dress. She didn’t like wearing it —it was too short, in her humble opinion. But her sister, years older and much wiser, had insisted she buy it, and she’d caved in.

After a long and relaxing bath, Whitney got dressed and headed down the staircase just as Mr. Smotter let Sam in the door. She didn’t want to keep Sam waiting, especially because Liam was in such a mood. She hoped Liam had gone home and Sam wouldn’t have to see him again.

“You’re a vision,” Sam said as she reached him. “Truly.”

He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. Odd. Why didn’t the gesture didn’t send butterflies to her stomach? Nerves, probably. When a man as sexy as Sam kissed a woman’s hand, the least her traitorous body could do was win some ripples of pleasure.

“Thank you, Sam. You look very handsome.”

He took her arm and led her outside, where a limo was waiting.

“Your carriage awaits, my lady,” he said with a flourish. The driver opened the door and she climbed inside, delighted to find champagne and strawberries. He poured her a glass and they had a pleasant ride to the Big Apple.

The show was stunning and dinner was nice. But she was aching to get back to the castle. She’d tried to muster up some physical attraction toward Sam, but she couldn’t. Liam Felton was a bastard, but maybe he’d ruined her. Maybe all other men would pale in comparison from now on. How sick was that?

“Thank you for the wonderful evening,” Sam said as he walked her to the door. “May I call on you again?”

Whitney could see he wanted to kiss her, and yet she was holding her bag determinedly between them. And yet, before she was able to utter a word, he clasped her in his arms and brought his lips to hers.

She stood there stiffly for a moment. He tried to get a response from her, but none was forthcoming, and he finally pulled back. After an awkward silence for a few moments before she finally spoke.

“I’m sorry, Sam. I had a lovely evening with you, but I’m tired.” She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to close the door on the possibility of another date. But she was leaving soon anyway, so what did it all matter?

“I understand, Whitney. You know, there’s an outdoor Christmas concert tomorrow in the area. Will you do me the honor of accompanying me?”

“That sounds like fun,” she replied. No, it didn’t, really, but she needed some distraction from the impossible situation in this old mansion.

“Sweet dreams,” Sam said, and he made a swift exit.

Whitney suspected that he’d done that so she wouldn’t have time to change her mind.

She took a deep breath and headed inside. It was late, so the halls were empty. Once upstairs, she peeked in on both children and saw them sleeping soundly.

She walked toward her door, feeling slightly depressed, but unsure why. She’d had a great evening. Sam had been excellent company, and her lack of any attraction toward him puzzled her.

“How was your ‘date’?” Liam said.

“Do you like to lurk in dark corners just so you can give me a heart attack?” she asked him.

“Do you like to avoid questions?” He seemed to have a permanent scowl on his face, now.

“I had a great time. I’m tired, though, so I’ll see you tomorrow, perhaps.” She placed her hand on the doorknob and started to twist it when he grabbed her and hauled her toward him.

“Think about this tonight,” he said milliseconds before his head descended. She had no time to react before his lips were pressed against hers.

Whitney’s pulse beat out of control and she could barely breathe. She involuntarily wound her arms around his neck and clung to him while his hands roamed up and down her back.

She could feel his arousal — it was impressive — and her stomach flipped upside down. She couldn’t seem to get enough of his taste, scent, or touch. She was quickly forgetting why kissing him was an obvious mistake.

“Invite me into your room,” he growled against her ear as he ran his skilled tongue down the curve of her neck, making her moan. All she had to do was say yes. She opened her mouth to utter the simple word as his hand slipped around her side and cupped her aching breast.

He flicked his thumb over her sensitive nipple, and she felt intense pleasure, even through her clothes.

She cried out, and his body seemed to harden even more against her. He pressed her firmly against the bedroom door, molding the two of them even more tightly together.

He brought his lips back to hers, almost devouring her. He moved his hand to the hem of her little dress, sliding it upward, touching the skin of her inner thigh. She shook.

“Invite me inside,” he murmured again.

She would have said yes, would have begged him to take her right there against the door if she’d been capable of speech.

His hand slid further up and then his fingers were against the bare skin of her hip and curling around her delicately rounded backside. Trailing his lips down her neck, he ignited a fire inside her that she hadn’t known existed before. She was still standing only because of the pressure of his arms and the door behind her.

His fingers moved to her neck and then he began undoing the zipper of her dress, and his tongue now slid across the swell of her breast.

Her peaked nipple was begging for those warm lips of his to capture it, to send her spiraling out of control.

A door shut somewhere in the house, and that small sound brought her back to reality. What in heck was she doing? She was practically making love to this man in the hall, and her niece or nephew could walk by. Not to mention myriad other people.

“Liam, we have to stop,” she whispered. She could barely get the words past her throat, choked as it was by desire. She brought her hands down to his chest and pushed.

He lifted his head, looking at her in confusion. His passionate eyes were almost her undoing. When he bent his head to take her lips once more, she didn’t know how she found the will to pull away. He let out a deep sigh and finally stepped back to walk away. Whitney let out her own sigh, finally opened her door and stepped through it. After closing it, she leaned against it, and a shudder racked her body.

Why hadn’t she let him inside? Why couldn’t she have been selfish for one single night? It wouldn’t have hurt anyone.

Even as she had these thoughts, she knew they weren’t true. She knew she couldn’t ever have a one-night stand without regrets. Still, as she climbed into bed, her body aching, she wished she could be exactly that kind of woman.

Chapter Fifteen

Whitney came dashing down the stairs. She was running late and didn’t want to make Sam wait. And she in no way wanted him to somehow be left alone with Liam. She wasn’t sure what Liam might say to Sam, especially after that kiss the night before. Well, to be honest, it was a hell of a lot more than a kiss.

She heard talking in the front foyer and scurried around the corner, slightly out of breath. Just her luck. Liam was standing there with Sam, and Sam didn’t look all too happy. She slowed her pace.

“I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting, Sam,” Whitney said as she walked up to the two men.

“It’s always a pleasure to wait on a beautiful woman,” Sam told her, and taking her hand, he brought it to his lips. She noticed the way Liam’s eyes narrowed.

“That was certainly the right thing to say,” she told him with a small laugh.

“I hear you’re going to the local the Christmas concert,” Liam said unexpectedly. “I may see you there,” Liam said. He was acting as if he were trying to make polite conversation, but his words came out more like a threat.

“I didn’t know you were thinking of attending,” Whitney remarked “But a lot of people will be there, so the chances of our running into each other will doubtless be slim.”

“We’ll just have to see. Do have a wonderful evening,” he replied before walking off.

She let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Are you ready to leave?” Sam obviously wanted to get out of this hellhole as much as she did.

“Yes, of course,” Whitney answered.

He placed his hand on her back and led her toward his waiting car. This time it wasn’t a limousine but a silver jaguar, and it gleamed in the setting sun. It was a beautiful vehicle, one that absolutely
screamed
money, which meant that the fellow was trying to impress her. He helped her inside, and she sank into the soft leather seat. Screw Liam and his intoxicating kisses. She was going to put some effort into this date.

They made their way toward the front of the concert hall. Soon, everyone was on their feet while a band played Christmas songs far more lively than she’d ever heard before. After she and Sam had a few drinks, and she noticed he was starting to look a little green around the face.

“Are you okay?” she asked him.

“I’ll be fine, Whitney. Something I ate must be disagreeing with me.”

They went toward some unoccupied benches. She felt bad that she wasn’t more concerned about him, but she really wanted to enjoy the show, not babysit her date. No. She couldn’t do that. She’d been brought up to do the right thing.

“Would you like to leave, Sam?”

“Of course not. I’ll just sit down for a few moments, and I’ll be perfectly fine.”

A few moments” stretched out. Dammit, Whitney told herself. But least Liam wasn’t there to see her second failed date in a row with another man. That would have been too much icing on the cake.

Chapter Sixteen

“Would you two like to go to a concert with me?” Liam asked Brayden and Ally.

Of course, they readily agreed. Liam knew that it was ridiculous to crash Whitney’s date, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He’d have the children as buffers, however, so she might not be quite as upset.

When they arrived at the concert and he was starting to worry about what he’d just done. The place was unusually crowded. He had on a baseball cap, jeans, and an old college sweater, an effort to disguise himself, but all it would take was one person to figure out who he was and he’d be mobbed. That article about him in
People
magazine had made his life a living hell. Who in the world cared about the fifty most eligible bachelors anyway? Okay, a lot of people did when they were billionaires. Hordes of desperate women.

But he and the children managed to go in without any trouble, and Liam kept an eye out for Whitney. He finally spotted her sitting on a bench with Sam, who didn’t look like he was doing too well. So he made a beeline in their direction. He was hoping Ally would work her magic and Whitney would abandon Sam and join them.

“Aunt Whitney!” Ally cried out. She jumped into her aunt’s lap and gave her a hug.

Whitney looked up in surprise and spotted Liam, who gave her a knowing grin. They both knew exactly what he was doing.

Sam spoke up. “Whitney, I’m so sorry, but I don’t think I can stay any longer. My stomach is really hurting,” he said. He swallowed several times and she moved back, praying he wasn’t about to hurl all over her.

“I’ll go with you,” she told him, and Liam felt instant panic.

“You can’t leave, Auntie. I just got here,” Ally said with her big, innocent eyes.

Whitney looked again at Liam, and he gave her a look full of challenge.

“I don’t want you to miss out on the concert. Please stay,” Sam said. “You can catch a ride back with the children and Liam.”

Liam enjoyed the frustration in her eyes. She clearly wanted to stay, but she had her pride, too, and it pulling her in the opposite direction. He saw the moment she gave in to what her niece wanted, and he felt like jumping in the air in victory. And yet he wasn’t thrilled when she decided to walk Sam to his car.

Liam waited impatiently for her return, and he didn’t hear a single Christmas carol until she finally reappeared. When she stood with Liam and the kids, he found himself relaxing for the first time since that kiss the night before.

As the song ended, one of the performers spoke to the crowd. “Are you all having a good time tonight?” the man said into his microphone.

And the audience exploded with shouts of joy.

“I’m always glad to hear that. We have a special guest in the audience tonight. I know for a fact he can play one mean fiddle. Would you like him to come up here and play for you?” the performer said.

Liam was filled with panic as his old friend looked down at him and smiled. That was when Whitney figured out what was going on. Liam was now the one turning a little green.

Whitney’s lips turned up in an evil smile as she took hold of his arm and dragged him toward the stage. The two children were jumping up and down in their excitement.

“I wanted to just blend in,” Liam said in a loud voice.

“Now, don’t be shy, Liam. All these eligible women in the audience want to hear you play,” the performer said, and the crowd went crazy again.

Liam was locked in now, and he couldn’t back out of it without inciting a riot.

“I’ll return the favor, Whitney,” he murmured before jumping up on the stage. “I don’t know why you want to hear me play,” he said in a loud voice over the microphone. “These guys have been doing an amazing job tonight.” When the crowd cried out for him to perform, he smiled broadly. “Okay, okay, I’ll do it.”

He was handed a fiddle, and the band started playing.

As the music soared, even as he drew the bow over the strings, he looked down, his eyes connecting with Whitney’s, and his heart leapt. Liam was in trouble because of this woman. Serious trouble.