To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) by Jane Cousins Read Free Book Online Page A

an amused glance
around the room.  “By the way I think we may have just planted the
memorial stone on that goody two shoes reputation of yours.”
    Nell
wanted to cringe as she noted the number of people staring their way, an avid
audience waiting on tenterhooks to see what would follow the kiss.  Hot
colour flooded her cheeks but she determinedly kept her back straight and her
head held high, meeting several onlookers gazes head on as Drum released his
hold around her waist escorting her from the dance floor. 
    “Well
if a kiss was all it took I should have taken up Bry Creston’s offer of a pity
snog back in second year.  He was the Romeo of my year, used to brag about
his conquests all the time.”
    “Just
where is Creston now?”  There was something low and threatening in Drum’s
tone.
    Nell
chuckled.  “He came out final year, seems all that bragging was just to
cover the fact he was gay.  He and his life partner are around here
somewhere.”
    “Well
then he can live to see another day.”
    Nell
rolled her eyes.  “I appreciate the kiss and you getting into the spirit
of my mission but the possessive act is going a little too far.”
    Drum
halted abruptly, bringing Nell to a stop by his side at the edge of the dance
floor.  “Let’s get one thing straight Doc, I’ve agreed to help out on this
little mission of yours.  And when I commit to something.”  His black
eyes caught and held her wide eyed baby blues.  “I commit one hundred and
twenty per cent of my effort.  You don’t want to be known as a nice girl
anymore then I’m not going to stop until everyone here knows you for the
dangerous, thrill seeking bad girl temptress you really are.”
    Nell
swallowed hard.  “I just want my ‘reputation’ gone.   I didn’t
say anything about changing me.”
    “Like
I’ve said before Doc you’ve even got yourself snowed.  This mission isn’t
about changing anyone else’s opinion but yours.  Once you accept the
reality then everyone else will follow.”
    “Just
how many hits to the head have you experienced in your lifetime?”  She
enquired scornfully.  Her not a nice girl!  Who was he kidding?
    “You
want to play Doctor with me Doc?”  Drum smiled with that twitching corner
lift of his mouth.  “I’m in.”
    “You...” 
She stared up at him.  A bad girl would say all the nasty insults that
were currently swirling in her head.  But Nell wasn’t that girl so she
just pulled her arm out from under his and made her way back towards her
friends, ignoring Drum all the way. 
    Thankfully
Julie and Grant had taken up residence at a small round table that could only
seat six people.  Devon had insinuated herself and Case into two of the
spots, leaving the remaining two available for them.
    Time
to face the inquisition.  This was going to be painful.

 
 
    Chapter
Five

 
    “Well
that went better than I expected.”  Nell felt compelled to break the
silence as she and Drum made their way along the sandy private path leading to
the honeymoon cottage. 
    With
the warm night breeze, the sound of waves breaking on the nearby beach and the
full moon overhead lighting their way the atmosphere felt all too
intimate.  She needed to remind him… and perhaps herself, that they were
together only because of some bizarre cosmic mishap.  And yes he’d agreed
to help with her plan, but that was more of a business arrangement, wasn’t
it?  He couldn’t possibly be expecting anything to happen between them…
gulp.  Except they hadn’t really defined what his exact role as her escort
here at the reunion would involve.  He did realise he would be sleeping
alone, right? 
    Earlier,
when she’d introduced him to her friends Drum had done a more than credible job
of spinning a tale that they had met at the wedding of his best friend to her
cousin.  Thankfully he failed to mention the minor inconsequential fact
that the meeting had taken place only a mere eight hours prior.