Her Lover's Legacy by Adrianne Byrd

Author:Adrianne Byrd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2008-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Gloria may have been gorgeous in black, a sizzling siren in red, but she was positively breathtaking in blue. The moment she opened her apartment door, Malcolm was speechless. The dress, the shortest he’d ever seen her in, draped her curvy body like a second layer of skin and had a way of making her legs look like tall stacks of brown sugar.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who knows how to be on time,” she joked, sliding on a sheer blue jacket and grabbing her matching clutch bag.

Malcolm stared.

“Well, I’m ready,” she said with a careless shrug when it looked as if Malcolm was just going to stand there.

At last, he blinked and ended his trance. “You look magnificent,” he said, knowing it was an understatement.

“What? This old thing?” She stepped out into the hall; but as she brushed past him, he caught sight of the price tag still attached to the back of her dress.

“Old thing, huh?” he said, barely containing his mirth as he grabbed the tag. “Forty-percent off is a pretty good deal.”

“Oh!” She jumped, avoiding his gaze while her face darkened.

“Here. Let me take care of that for you,” he offered, knowing from experience with his sister how to remove the tag without damaging the dress. “There you go. You’re all set to break men’s hearts.”

Gloria glanced over her shoulder and looked up at him. “That’s the first time I’ve been accused of that.”

He leaned in close and allowed the trail of her heavenly scent to wrap around him. “Has anyone told you that you’re not a very good liar?”

Her blush deepened. “Only you.”

He smiled and offered his arm. “Now, where is this party?” he asked, wondering if he was a bit too casual for the evening in his all-black attire.

“Not far. The Lancaster Hotel,” she said, and pretended not to notice his immediate frown while she led him toward the elevators.

“Fancy. Just what sort of party is this?”

“Oh, you know.” She shrugged. “The usual.” She tapped her foot as she mentally urged the elevators to hurry. There was a very strong possibility of making the Guinness Book of World Records for the shortest date.

Malcolm groaned as the elevator’s bell dinged. “It’s a political dinner, isn’t it?”

“No,” she answered, not quite meeting his gaze. “It’s a political fund-raiser.”

He scoffed. “And what, pray tell, is the difference?”

“Less food and more music,” she said as if it was obvious, and stepped into the elevator.

He followed her. “I don’t believe this. You tricked me.”

“I did no such thing. You offered to take me out.”

“Because you knew I would.”

“What—I’m psychic now?” No way was she going to admit that she’d played on his guilt to get what she wanted. As far as she was concerned, he could never prove it.

“Did Cayman put you up to this?” Malcolm’s voice thickened with rising irritation.

The bell chimed and the doors slid open.

Gloria quickly exited the small compartment in hopes to distance herself from his tight scrutiny.

Malcolm dogged her heels. “The answer is no,” he said.

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