Seven-Year Seduction by Heidi Betts Read Free Book Online Page A

lived here with him and their parents for the first twenty years of her life. That certainly had to count for more than Connor’s close friendship with Nick and the fact that he’d lived across the street from them for almost the same amount of time.
    Dropping the phone back in its cradle, she slapped the directory closed and stood, sending the chair scuttling back several inches.
    No, she wasn’t going to do this. She was going to stay in her own house, in her own room, until she flew back to Los Angeles.
    Hopefully that would be Thursday, on her original ticket. But if the weather grounded that flight, she would stay until the next one available to the West Coast.
    It wouldn’t be the most comfortable few days she’d ever spent, she knew. Being in the same town with Connor was difficult enough…staying in the same house with him was bound to give her a migraine of epic proportions.
    No problem; she’d brought her Imitrex. Along with plain ibuprofen, antacids and all the other over-the-counter medications she kept on hand for when her body began to protest the long hours and high stress levels she forced it to endure.
    The point was, she’d been telling herself for years that she was well and truly over Connor. No more childhood crush, no more unrealistic, adolescent fantasies that he couldn’t fulfill. Now was the time to step up and prove it.
    She was debating her plan of action where Connor was concerned when he poked his head around the doorway, startling her. For a nanosecond, her heart stopped beating as it jumped into her throat.
    â€œYou’re still here,” he said unnecessarily.
    â€œYes.” She drew herself up, smoothing the front of her white silk blouse, though she doubted she’d picked up any wrinkles in the short amount of time she’d been dressed. “And I’m staying, so you might want to look into finding other accommodations.”
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Couldn’t get an earlier flight?”
    His eyes twinkled devilishly and her jaw snappedclosed. He was so aggravating, the way he seemed to know what she was thinking and find it amusing.
    â€œNo, actually. There’s a storm front moving in, and they’re not sure I’ll even be able to leave at the scheduled time.”
    â€œYou could always go to a hotel,” he offered, moving to fill the doorway and leaning a shoulder against the carved-wood jamb.
    â€œSo could you.”
    â€œStalemate, then. Since we’ve been down this road before, and neither of us is willing to leave, I guess that means we’re stuck together.”
    She hated to admit it, but he was right. They were well and truly stuck with each other.
    â€œCome on.” Connor pushed away from the wall and motioned toward the kitchen with a hitch of his head. “If we’re going to be roommates for a while, we might as well make nice. I fixed breakfast. Come get some.”
    With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her to follow or not. She stood behind the desk for another minute, debating whether to let down her guard and eat with him or hold tight to her pride and avoid him as much as possible.
    A whiff of toast and other unidentifiable scents floated into the room, causing her stomach to rumble and making up her mind for her. She was starving, he’d cooked, and she’d be darned if he’d keep her from eating when she was hungry in her own home.
    She crossed the office and strolled down the hall, her high heels clicking in cadence with her steps. When she reached the kitchen, she found Connor at the stove, stirring something in a frying pan and scooping portions onto plates.
    As though sensing her presence, he glanced in her direction, then carried the two heaping plates to the table.
    â€œHave a seat,” he told her. “I’ll get the toast and some napkins.”
    Waiting until he was back at the counter, she skirted him and settled in the chair nearest the