A Seductive Proposal by Caris Roane Read Free Book Online Page B

Silence fell for a few minutes until Quint whispered, “I’m seeing that face again.”
    She gasped. “Would you stop?”
    He chuckled. “You’re too pretty to be owning a winery I want to buy. It’s not fair of you.”
    She tilted her head. “I feel so bad for you.”
    He chuckled again. “This meal is perfect. Thank you for directing us here.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “Carly, I know I don’t have the right to ask, but would you show me your winery anyway, as a favor?”
    This also had to be a ploy, to ask a favor. Where did this place future obligation? Did a favor bind him to her, or the other way around?
    She wanted to say no. The words rose to her lips, but he was so handsome sitting across from her that without warning, memories flooded her mind of all the ways he’d tended to her body.
    Her stomach tightened into a knot of desire so powerful she struggled to breathe.
    Tell him no.
    Her gaze fell once more to his lips. She had loved the night she’d spent with him and though she had no intention of repeating the event, her entire being strained toward him. She wanted just a little more time with him before she packed him off to Phoenix.
    Maybe it was a mistake, surely it was amistake. “All right. If that’s what you want. But I’m not selling.”
    The minute she saw his self-satisfied smile, she knew she’d made another rookie mistake.

 

Chapter Three
    The next day, Carly met Quint at the winery. She wore her tour guide outfit, basic blue jeans, a long-sleeved light blue heavy cotton shirt, suede gloves tucked into her belt, and Timberline shoes. She left her hat in her Acura.
    She introduced him to John Young, her winery manager. Quint surprised her by asking a host of questions, which John answered in simple terms…at first. But the more Quint exhibited his knowledge of the winemaking process, the more elaborate John’s responses became. Soon, John’s enthusiasm took over like a train gathering speed until he launched into a rhapsodic speech about the new grape crusher he’d installed.
    Carly understood a little more about Quint’s abilities. She suspected he could get a scorpion to talk about the fascinating aspects of desert nightlife and which insects tasted best. She felt duly warned yet intrigued at the same time.
    “Young’s a good man,” he stated as they left the winery and crossed to the house. “But I suspect you already know that.”
    “Yeah, I do. When I interviewed him, with just a few pointed questions, he became the Superman of the grape world.” She opened the front door to the house, punched in the alarm code then led him inside the empty dwelling.
    He whistled. “You’ve got some great bones here. I love all the arches. This is a terrific foyer and you’ve put a beautiful wood on the floor.”
    “I had an excellent architect and an experienced builder. I also have a good friend who’s been working on the interior design for me as well. Grace Hartley. She’s such a sweetheart and boy does she have an eye. We’ll be going over the final details soon. It won’t be long before we start putting in orders for the furniture and drapes. Then I can move in.”
    “You must be looking forward to that.”
    “I am. It’ll be different. I’ve lived in the Uptown house for years. I know I’ll miss the location. I sort of like being in the middle of things.”
    “I know what you mean.”
    “I’ll bet you do. You’re the kind of man who’s never far from the action.”
    Maybe she could have chosen her words better, but before she knew what happened, Quint pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
    Surprise held her immobile for a few seconds after which her traitorous senses became fixed on savoring his lips, his tongue, and that citrus-laced musky smell of his.
    All those exciting memories raced through her. He groaned and pulled her closer so that she felt his erection pressed into her abdomen. So help her, she wanted more. Now.
    Reality soon took charge, however.