A Convenient Bride by Cheryl Ann Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

caught in a cage, she hissed, “As if your note would soothe my outraged father. How would you convince him that you did not touch me? Once he discovers that we have spent the evening together, he will see us wed. You will be my husband.”
    Richard knew she was right. His stomach burned, and hepushed from the bed. “You little minx. You planned this from the start. You knew you would force this wedding the minute you decided to follow me into this inn.”
    “I did no such thing.” She lifted her hands as he approached her. Good, let her believe he’d strangle her. The girl deserved that, and more. “I swear I would not force you to marry me.” She darted around the bed. “A compromise is all I ask.”
    This stopped him. “And what do you have to offer that would entice me to marry you?”
    “I know you are searching for your missing sister. If I help you search for her, then you will agree to marry me.”
    A lock of hair slipped over her left eye. She pursed her deep pink lips and blew it aside. He went hard.
    “How will you explain your absence from Walter?” He shifted to hide the evidence of his interest.
    “I will tell him that I went off to Cornwall to visit my ancient aunt, Primrose, using the quiet of her country cottage to whittle down a list of potential suitors,” she said. “He will never know I spent a few days chasing off to Gretna Green with you.”
    Though the plan was thin, it would keep him from damaging his friendship with Walter. He knew the hurt his old friend would feel knowing that he had a part in ruining his daughter, even if he was entirely innocent in the matter.
    “Won’t Aunt Primrose give you away?”
    “She is a sweet soul but a touch forgetful,” she said, shrugging. “It will not help him to ask her about my visit.”
    The exasperating Miss Harrington had an answer for every argument.
    “I do not need your help,” he said finally. “I have several men, loyal men, who are right now looking for Anne. You will only slow me down. Besides, what experience as an investigator do you have? What skills do you possess that will aid my hunt?”
    She swallowed. “Er, none.” A quick flash of panic crossed her face. The impulsive girl had clearly not thought this through. In her desire to thwart her father, she’d acted rashly—twice, if he counted the coach encounter. Perhaps her father was right. She needed a firm hand.
    It would not be his.
    He shook his head. “I think I shall take my chances with a note. You have nothing to offer that would make me willing to shackle us together for eternity.”
    For a long moment, she stood there, uncertain, and he was sure he could hear cogs turning in her brain.
    “Nothing I can say or do will change your mind?” she asked softly.
    “Nothing,” he replied, confident of his win.
    Then to his surprise, a slow smile crossed her perfect mouth, drawing him in and leaving him unable to turn away. He wasn’t certain of her intentions until she crossed the space between them, hips swaying, eyes alight with mischief.
    When she pressed her lush body against him and circled her arm around his neck, the soft scent of lilies and some other such flower teased his senses. He found that he did not even mind the hint of horse on her skin.
    He was frozen in place. All he could think about was her hand tangled in his too long hair and the feel of her breasts teasing his chest—well, that and the slight parting of her perfect lips.
    “Nothing?” she asked him again, in a breathless whisper, as she pulled his mouth down to hers.

Chapter Five

    S candalous, outrageous, delicious—Brenna slipped through every one of those emotions and more as she kissed the viscount’s hard mouth, the length of her body draped against his. Though her previous chaste kisses had been with men who would be considered agreeable and charming, this man was anything but. He was hard and dangerous and completely unpleasant. Yet he made her body tingle all the way down to her