Home for the Holidays by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online

unconsciously rubbing it along the side of his cheek. He had watched them sway in her nervousness and thump gently against her neck. They’d still been warm when he’d picked them up, her heat in them, and he’d grasped that warmth tightly in his fist on the way out the door, unwilling to let it go, when he had just forced himself to let
her
go.
    It was such a simple plan, this seduction. How in the bloody hell did it suddenly seem so complicated? But he knew why. He hadn’t counted on the effect she had on him, hadn’t planned on being charmed by her blushes, entranced by herbeauty, fascinated by her myriad emotions, nor aroused by an innocent touch and set on fire by her own desire.
He
was the one who had been seduced, and most thoroughly. And he wasn’t sure if he could manage to subject himself to that again, without bringing it to a natural conclusion.
    He should distance himself, timewise, at least until he could get these unexpected reactions of his under control. Avoid her completely for a day or two. But there was no time for that. No more touching, then. The touching had been his own undoing. Surely he could conduct this seduction without physical contact. Work on her sympathies instead. Even resort to a bit of natural courtship of the less obvious sort. Seduce her mind first, then her body.
    Satisfied with the new plan, Vincent finished off the brandy and didn’t refill his glass. And he was glad of the distraction when the knock sounded at the door now. Since it was only his secretary who ever intruded here, it wasn’t surprising to see Horace Dudley enter.
    Vincent had forgotten, however, that he might need to be looking for a new secretary. A distinctly annoying thought. But just as stiff of form as he’d been last night when he marched off down that snowy street, Horace carried the promised letter of resignation in hand. Vincent didn’t give the little man a chance to present it.
    “Put that away, Mr. Dudley. I have already rectifiedwhat you found so objectionable, leaving you no reason to desert your position here.”
    “Rectified? You’ve allowed the Ascots to keep their house?”
    Vincent frowned over that absurd conclusion. “After all the effort and favors I called in to acquire it? No. But the lady is staying here until her father returns, so she won’t be sitting on some street corner, huddled in a blanket, half-buried in snow.”
    Horace cleared his throat. “I hadn’t quite imagined such a dire circumstance, m’lord, but apparently you did.”
    Vincent’s frown took on deeper lines. “Not a’tall, and beside the point,” he said briskly. “You will agree, however, that you no longer have reason to look for a new position?”
    After the tongue-lashing he had received from his wife last night over his high morals, which wouldn’t put bread on the table, Horace was happy to say, “Indeed, and thank you, m’lord.”
    “Back to work, then. You may concentrate now on those two investments we discussed last week. Oh, and summon my physician to the house.”
    “You are feeling poorly?”
    “No, but let the staff know that he’ll be here to take care of any illness or physical complaints they might have.”
    “You should know they won’t come forward, m’lord. Physicians are much too expensive for minor—”
    “I’ll take care of the charges.”
    Horace blinked. “That’s quite—generous of you. Are you sure you aren’t feeling poorly?”
    The frown became a definite scowl. “I haven’t gone daft, man, and I always have ulterior motives. Just make sure, if he’s asked by Miss Ascot, that he tells her he sees to the staff here each year at this time. And have him look in on her brother while he’s here. The boy has apparently been sick for some time now.”
    “Ah, now I understand. You don’t want her to feel indebted to you.”
    Vincent almost laughed at the misconception. Indebted would be nice, but would have to wait for something else to inspire it. His only