Swept Away by the Tycoon

Author:Barbara Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

BUT NOT IN the main salon. There were too many opportunities for interruption. Before Chloe could say a word, Ian grabbed her hand and led her down the hall to the first empty room and shut the door.

She blinked in disbelief at the unlit fireplace. Startled as she was by Ian’s abrupt maneuver, it took her a minute or two to realize they’d returned to the library. “I didn’t think you’d feel comfortable going upstairs,” he explained. “And this way we can speak in private.”

“Do we have to?” If he wanted to talk about last night, Chloe would rather not talk at all. She’d spent enough time rehashing the evening while not sleeping.

“I think we do.”

That’s what she was afraid he’d say. She took a seat on the edge of the leather sofa, while Ian stayed by the door, arms folded, leaving miles of distance between them. As she waited for the inevitable “it’s not me, it’s you” litany, she struggled to keep from tugging at her neckline.

Wearing the flannel had been a mistake. That they both knew she’d slept in the shirt left her feeling more exposed than the wide-open collar. Exposed, foolish and a thousand other adjectives. Didn’t matter that Ian had yet to look her in the eye, choosing instead to focus on a spot on the floor; she still felt naked.

“I owe you an apology,” he said.

“No, you don’t.” Please don’t, she added silently. Apologizing meant he regretted kissing her, and she didn’t want to hear the rejection out loud. No matter how confused her thoughts, she needed to believe he’d wanted her, even if only for a moment. “You kissed me and I kissed you back. End of story.”

Well, the end except for the fact that her skin still burned where his lips had touched her, and that staring at him this morning, she ached for him to kiss her again.

He lifted his eyes. Chloe immediately wished he’d go back to staring at the floor. “I had no right—”

She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t sit and listen to his excuses. “Look, we’re both adults.” This time, she held up her hand. “Last night was...We got caught up in the atmosphere after a stressful day. It happens. There’s no need to make a federal case out of it.” Considering how her insides were trembling while she spoke, she applauded herself for sounding so mature.

“Are you sure? I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”

“They’ll only be awkward if you keep apologizing for something you don’t need to apologize for.” Or that she wanted to hear him apologize for. Hearing the note of relief in his voice was hard enough.

Besides, she realized there was some truth to her statement. Between their conversations and the storm, yesterday had been an emotionally draining day. They probably did overreact to the romantic atmosphere. Things between them would be much different now that the sun was out.

If he would stop studying her, that is. With her hand clutching at her open neckline to cover herself, she rose and walked to the window.

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