Runaway Heiress by Heidi Betts

Author:Heidi Betts [Betts, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780373732388
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Nine

Hours later, the noise and crowd of the cocktail party behind them, Lily sat beside Nigel in the rear of the limo as it carried them back to the Royal Crown. Her eyes were closed, her head resting against the plush leather seat. To say she was tired would be a tremendous understatement.

As though reading her mind, Nigel’s knuckles brushed her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Tired?” he asked.

His touch was featherlight and possibly one-hundred-percent innocent, but still it had her sucking in a breath and fighting to maintain her equilibrium.

Rolling her head to the side, she forced her eyes open, braced for the impact of meeting his gaze. It still hit her like a steamroller.

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to form coherent words to respond to his query, she merely nodded.

One corner of his mouth tipped up in an understanding smile. “You were incredible tonight,” he told her in a soft voice that washed over her like warm honey.

“You look amazing,” he continued. “Better than any model we could have hired to showcase this design. And the way you are with people...you’re a natural. You had everyone at the party eating out of your hand. The men especially. Well, the straight ones, at any rate,” he added with a teasing wink.

Despite her weariness, she couldn’t help but return his grin of amusement. “I’m glad you approve. I don’t mind telling you I was nervous about tonight. I didn’t want to embarrass you or do anything in this beautiful gown to put a damper on tomorrow’s show.”

“Not possible,” he said with a sharp shake of his head. “You were...extraordinary. As I knew you would be.”

His heartfelt compliment made her blush and filled her with unexpected pleasure. She shouldn’t be happy that he was so impressed with her performance tonight. She should be annoyed. Sorry that she’d helped to bolster his or Ashdown Abbey’s reputation in any way.

But she was pleased. Both that she’d maintained her ruse as a personal assistant, and that she’d done well enough to earn Nigel’s praise.

She was candid enough with herself to admit that the last didn’t have as much to do with his standing as her “boss” as with him as a man.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her throat surprisingly tight and slightly raw.

“No,” he replied, once again brushing the back of his hand along her cheek. “Thank you.”

And then, before she realized what he was about to do, he leaned in, pressing his mouth to hers.

For a moment, she remained lax, too stunned to move or respond. But his lips were so soft and inviting, and she’d been imagining what it would be like to kiss him for so long...

With a low mewl of longing, she shifted into his arms, bringing her own up to grasp his shoulders. She opened to him, letting her lips part, her body melt against his and everything in her turn liquid.

Nigel groaned, pulling her to him with even more force, his wide palm cupping

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