Tempted by the Billionaire: A Hometown Hero Series Novel by Clare Connelly Read Free Book Online

sensation as it passed through her lips, and down her insides.
    “It’s nice,” he complimented, after he’d tasted it.
    “Thanks. I chose it because I liked the picture.”
    His laugh was a smooth rumble. “Isn’t that against the rules? Something about judging books and covers?”
    She nodded. “It’s how I buy wine.”
    “I see.” He sipped his wine thoughtfully, then stepped back, to lean against the bench opposite. “Do you judge many things by their looks?”
    She swallowed. His meaning was clear. Willow dropped her gaze. “You can tell a lot about things and people from appearances,” she hedged quietly.
    “Not always.”
    She lifted her eyes speculatively to his face. “You think I’ve got the wrong idea about you?” She challenged.
    He lifted his brows in obvious surprise. “You don’t beat about the bush, do you?”
    She shook her head. “Not when I’m being accused of something.”
    “Sorry! Mom.” Anna said, breezing into the kitchen with no idea that she was interrupting anything.
    Willow dragged her gaze away from Matt’s face. “How is Amelia?’
    “Same old. Man, this smells good, Matt. What can I do to help?”
    Matt’s expression was impossible to read. “Nothing, ma’am. Just get that husband of yours home for a feed tonight.”
    Anna rolled her eyes. “I wish! I’ve never seen him so little as this past fortnight.”
    As if perfectly scripted, the front door banged, and Isaac walked down the long corridor, rubbing his hands through his crop of auburn hair as he went.
    He stopped in the kitchen and sighed wearily.
    “Tough day?” Anna asked sympathetically, putting an arm around his waist. She looked up at his face as though he were the only person in the room; the only person in the world.
    His smile was thin. “Same old, same old.”
    “Nothing on Annabeth?” Willow asked, her skin tingling with sadness for the girl and her family.
    “Nothing. Except the usual psychics champing at the bit to get their two minutes of fame.”
    “You didn’t talk to any of them?” Anna asked.
    “Nah. Load of hooey.”
    “I don’t know,” Willow contradicted with a shrug. “I read an article a while ago that said psychic involvement has, on occasion, been proven to lead to some new information.”
    “I read the same story,” Isaac said with a nod. “But it’s because the psychics are either personally involved and want to gloat, or because they know someone who is involved. Not because they have some super intuition.”
    “Sometimes there’s dumb luck too,” Matt pointed out with a teasing grin.
    “You guys are a bunch of sceptics,” Willow said with a shrug of her shoulders.
    “You saying you believe that stuff?”
    She looked at Matt with a thoughtful frown. “No. Not necessarily. But I don’t not believe.”
    “You’re a fence sitter,” Matt teased, turning to the oven and pulling out a tray. He placed it on the stove top, then pulled out yet another tray.
    She was distracted from their conversation by the sheer quantity of delicious food spread out before her. “God, Matt. You’ve made enough for an army.”
    He laughed. “Only way I know to cook.”
    “I’m surprised you know how to cook at all,” Willow observed under her breath, when Anna and Ike moved to set the table.
    He leaned down, his lips close to her ear. “Isn’t that judging a book by its cover yet again?”
    Her whole body began to reverberate with waves of pleasure as his warm breath fanned down her neck. She startled a little, and when she locked eyes with him, the wave of desire almost threatened to overpower her.
    His blue eyes were conflicted. She couldn’t understand him. There were nuances of emotion in his face that she simply didn’t fathom. Her lips parted on a breath, as her eyes raked his face.
    “What is this?” She whispered, her fingertips aching to reach out and touch his chest.
    His smile was tinged with wistful remorse. “Fried chicken and chilli sauce,” he said