A Christmas Seduction by Amanda Browning

Author:Amanda Browning [Amanda Browning]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459252455
Publisher: Harlequin

CHAPTER SIX

It had snowed overnight. Somewhere between the time she returned to her room and morning, the world had turned white and silent. From her vantage point by the window, Laura stared out at the snowy scene with less than her customary pleasure. She was tense, and she knew why. Quinn. Her first look at his face ought to tell her of her success or failure, but she hadn’t seen him yet this morning. He had already breakfasted by the time she came down.

Behind her the family was gathered to open their presents. Despite Alexander’s absence, or maybe because of it, everyone was in a determinedly festive mood. They were grouped around Maxine like soldiers guarding the colours. There was no place for her in their midst She hadn’t expected there to be, but it was a painful reminder of how alone she was. And how very much she wanted to belong.

She could hear the children’s excited exclamations as each parcel was unwrapped, and smiled at their unbridled exuberance. How simple everything was when you were young. As a child she had always enjoyed this part of the day, still did, though now she preferred giving presents rather than just receiving them. She had already given Jonathan the engraved pen she had bought him. He had given her a recipe book. It had been out of print for many years, and it warmed her to think of the trouble he must have gone to to find it for her, knowing her love for cooking.

Sighing, she opened the book and flipped through the pages. One particular recipe caught her attention, and the next instant she was engrossed.

‘Interesting book?’

Caught up as she was in the intricacies of the dish, Laura hadn’t heard Quinn’s silent approach. His unexpected question caused her to jump violently, clutching the book to her chest in a purely defensive gesture. Glancing round, she found him standing so close, barely a breath could pass between them.

He was so near, in fact, she could see there was nothing to see. Nothing to tell her the result of their last meeting. All she could say for sure was that his eyes seemed to be an even more piercing shade of blue this morning. They had an immediate effect on her. She felt them swallowing her up whole, and her body suddenly thrummed with such piercingly sensual awareness that an ache started up deep inside her.

‘Laura?’ Her name was laced with sardonic amusement, and to her consternation she realised she had been caught staring. That wasn’t all. She knew he had asked her a question, only she couldn’t remember what it was. Faint, betraying colour entered her cheeks as she set about pulling herself together in a hurry.

‘I’m sorry. I was miles away. What did you say?’ she asked with a tiny shake of her head to get herself thinking straight. Where had her wits gone begging when she needed them most?

Quinn transferred his gaze to the book she still clasped to her bosom.

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