Distracted by her Virtue by Maggie Cox Read Free Book Online

it?’
    ‘What?’ He spun round, his heart drumming a dizzying tattoo inside his chest.
    ‘Don’t be mad at me for asking. It’s just that I know you’ve always loved the place. Perhaps you’re hoping that if you become friends she’ll consider selling it to you?’
    ‘I think we’d better end this conversation right here.’
    He’d been seriously intent on wooing Sophia, but Beth’s comments made him fear that she was viewing him solely as the hard-headed landowner he was reputed to be. A man who wouldn’t hesitate to be mercenary if it suited him, rather than the amiable brother she loved. Her good opinion mattered to him. The bright afternoon was suddenly soured.
    Irked, Jarrett left her in the kitchen, shouldering past the guests outside on the patio and deliberately ignoring any attempts to engage him in conversation. Surprised glances followed him into the garden as he made a beeline across the grass to the pretty woman still sitting on the bench outside the veranda.
    Catching hold of her hand, he pulled her to her feet. ‘I think it’s time that we left.’
    ‘Why? What’s wrong?’
    Instantly regretting being the instigator of what looked like fear in her eyes, Jarrett abruptly let go of Sophia’s hand and took a deep breath to compose himself. ‘It’s my fault. I should never have persuaded you that it was a good idea to come here today. How do you feel about my taking you and Charlie to the seaside instead? There’s still plenty of daylight left. If you want to stop off at home to collect your camera so that you can take some pictures you can do that. We’ll drive down in my car.’
    Regarding the earnest expression on his handsome face, and trying hard to ignore the bolt of electricity that had shot through her insides when he’d grabbed her hand, Sophia couldn’t deny that Jarrett’s impromptu suggestion was appealing. But, even so, the memory of past wrong decisions aroused her caution.
    ‘Do you really think I should risk going with you anywhere when I hardly even know you?’ she asked.
    He held her gaze with a long and steady stare. ‘You’re getting to know me … you know my name and who I am. You also know who my sister is and where she lives, and there are plenty of other people here who could testify to seeing us leave together. Isn’t that enough to reassure you that I’m no sinister stranger with unsavoury motives?’
    Sophia was indeed reassured. She smiled. ‘Okay, I’ll go to the seaside with you … Charlie will be ecstatic at the idea. But first I want you to tell me what’s made you suddenly decide we should leave.’
    Dropping his hands to his lean jean-clad hips, Jarrett glanced down at the ground, as if to glean inspiration as to how best to answer, then raised his head and scowled. ‘Excluding yourself and Charlie, let’s just say the company isn’t as charming as I thought it would be.’
    Now it was Sophia’s turn to be dismayed. Someone must have said something unflattering about her. But even though she was curious to know what had been said, she knew it was a pointless and self-destructive exercise to find out. After what she and Charlie had been through what could it possibly matter what anyone thought of her?
Especially
people she didn’t know and who didn’t know her?
    ‘Let’s get out of here.’ Obviously impatient to begone, Jarrett glanced over at Charlie, who was still throwing the ball for an excitable Dylan to fetch.
    Sophia touched his sleeve to get his attention. ‘If someone’s running me down I’m quite capable of standing up for myself, you know. You don’t need to act as my protector.’
    ‘No one’s running you down. People are just curious about you, and I don’t want you to feel inhibited by what you imagine they think of you.’ Shaking his head, he hunted her with his azure gaze so that there was nowhere for her to hide. ‘I’ve sensed since we met that something bad happened before you came here … something you want