Four Weeks by Melissa Ford Read Free Book Online Page B

she knew something significant—possibly something she wanted to keep from him and replied with, “You."
    Nothing in her face hinted that she might be holding back information. “There must be a copy of my resume around the stable somewhere."
    "I've looked it over thoroughly, I assure you. The only thing it can't tell me is why you want to manage a stable? And especially, why Hawk's?"
    She turned her gaze to the horizon. Was she planning her own verbal attack? Trent waited for her to go into a complete explanation of her qualifications, possibly every successful management job she'd had since graduating from high school. It might take him awhile to get her back to the real thing he wanted to know, but he'd do it if it took all night.
    She faced him again and the all-business expression he'd been expecting wasn't there. Instead she looked like the cat that ate the canary, or more accurately, the cat that was about to pounce on the canary. She laid her fingertips ever so gently on the sleeve of his jacket and moved closer to him.
    "What does it matter why I'm here?” She lifted her other hand to rest it on his shoulder. “Here I am."
    The light heat of her palm went straight through to his skin. Within seconds, his whole body rushed with the desire to taste her again. Again, his plan to charm information out of her fell aside and all he thought about was taking hold of the tempting woman standing in front of him.
    Without letting himself consider her sudden change of mood, he bent down and kissed her.
    She returned his kiss, hesitantly at first, but after a bit of gentle encouragement, she arched into him and he was rewarded with a soft sigh.
    Heat replaced the cold tension of the past days and for the first time in days, no months, his world was right and he was whole. It was as though Louise held the missing puzzle piece he'd been searching for. He wanted more—a tighter connection. He murmured to her and she wiggled closer, pushing his pulse up another notch and nearly making him lose control.
    Yet somehow his sense reappeared. Louise Hart was anything but a simple woman, and she'd regret her actions later. He didn't want any part of another person's regrets.
    He had enough of his own.
    Reluctantly Trent pulled away. “I'll get a taxi to take you home."
    He almost flinched at the hurt accusation in her eyes, but instead he turned and left without looking back. It was long past time to stop playing games.
    After arranging with the bellman for Louise to get back to Sally's, he started for his hotel. He moved as quickly as he could, sucking in long gulps of the evening air. But the air was warm and only served as a reminder of that kiss. To lengthen his walk, Trent switched his path toward one of the quiet, deserted side roads. He needed time to get Louise out of his system and think things through. Unfortunately, his brain hadn't been much help the past few hours. Instead of charming information out of her, he'd ended up doubting his self control and what little information he did have.
    * * * *
    LOUISE SWALLOWED HARD. She wanted to believe her reaction to Trent had been part of her plan—some exceptional acting on her part—but she had to accept the truth. Her reaction was genuine. Nothing about the evening had gone as she expected. And everything was much more complicated now that she'd kissed Trent. Her boss. She flushed. If Trent didn't sell the stables, she'd be lucky to keep her job.
    Trying to cool her heated skin, she pressed her palms to her forehead but it didn't help. Every inch of her was warm. And so alive. Wonderfully alive. But horribly unsettled.
    Maybe if he hadn't broken it off so suddenly she would've gotten her fill of his strong embrace. She leaned on the balcony and watched twin boys race down the steep hill below. Their laughing mother, well rounded with another baby on the way, ambled after them. Their happy shouts punctuated Louise's agonizing confusion.
    A sigh of frustration exploded from