Seduction by the Book by Linda Conrad Read Free Book Online Page A

idea of what would constitute a party.”
    â€œWell…there would be music. There’s always music at a good party.”
    He smiled, despite himself. “If you haven’t noticed, the only music you hear in this house comes from your CD player in the gym. And without electricity, retrieving that now would be useless.”
    â€œNo music? My gosh, I hadn’t realized.” She stared up at him. “I can’t imagine living in a house without music. At home, you could walk through the house and every room would have a different song playing. Don’t you like music?”
    â€œIt isn’t that,” he confessed. “Growing up we didn’t have much music in our house…aside from an occasional piano concerto played during a business reception.”
    â€œYour family had a piano and you didn’t play it?”
    He tried to keep the grimace off his face, but it was impossible. “I wanted to learn. But my father said piano playing would be of no use in business. I had the feeling he didn’t think it was particularly masculine either.”
    Annie laughed. “Don’t tell that to my brother Ryan. He plays every kind of music there is. Good enough that he can even take requests. And he’s no sissy. He was a fullback on the Notre Dame football team. Now he’s a fireman in Cambridge. He’d be a grand person to invite.”
    She’d been so animated as she talked about her brother. It was obvious that she loved her family. Her face glowed and she had bounced in her seat as she’d waved her hands throughout the story.
    God, how he wanted her.
    He would give up a month of his life to just once be able to capture that sexy mouth with his own. To run his hands through her fiery curls. To touch that smooth skin and finally bury himself deep inside her waiting warmth.
    She was still driving him insane.
    Waving a hand as if to dismiss the problem, she said, “Don’t worry about the music. I can sing later if need be. What we really should have is beer or ale. That’s another absolute necessity for a good Irish party.”
    â€œSorry. I doubt that there’s a beer in the house.”
    â€œDon’t you like beer, either? My father would callyou a heretic.” She laughed and the flashing green fire in her eyes made him too aware of her teasing.
    â€œBe serious for once,” he scowled. “Perhaps we should play a game of chess to pass the time.”
    â€œDon’t know how to play. How about Hearts? I used to love to play that with my family.”
    â€œHearts?”
    â€œIt’s a card game.”
    He shrugged. “No playing cards in the house.”
    â€œOh my gosh. A house with no playing cards and no beer. That’s just sad.”
    He found himself laughing at his own expense. “You are absolutely impossible.” But joking with her was turning him on even more than before. “I suppose in some ways I’ve been living in a dull world. At least it must seem that way to you,” he managed.
    â€œOh I don’t think your world is dull at all.” She smiled and he felt his knees go weak. “Look around you. This is a fabulous mansion on an exotic Caribbean island. You can get on a jet and go anywhere in the world you want, any time you want. And in the meantime, you have a dolphin research facility where you can play with and talk to marine mammals. If that’s not colorful, I don’t know what is.”
    Through her eyes, the gray in his world faded away. It made him want more…more vibrancy…more life…more of Annie.
    He loved to hear her talk. Just talk. Her voice had a lilt to it that rolled over him like warm honey.
    â€œHow about if we just talk to pass the time?” he asked, desperate to find something to take his mind off her body.
    â€œOkay.” She seemed to think that over a minute. “I know. We can tell stories.”
    â€œWhat kind of