Read Online Love Is Lovelier by Jean Brashear - Free Book Online Page B

Isabel?”
    He caught her gaze and wouldn’t release it. This, he understood, was critical. “Yes. Always.”
    She nodded. “I’m glad.”
    “I’ve taken a lot of risks in my business life, Anne, but I’m not a careless man. Even my gambles are calculated.”
    “So what have you calculated about me?”
    “It wouldn’t matter.” He chuckled. “You blow every blasted assumption out of the water.”
    This smile was the most genuine yet. “Don’t expect me to be sorry.”
    “Before we leave this topic, I want to ease your mind. One, I wasn’t going after condoms.” She tried to draw away, but he wouldn’t let her. “And two, we don’t need them. I’ve been very careful and I’ve been tested often.”
    “I didn’t think you were—” She pulled at her fingers again.
    “Oh, you absolutely did.” He drew her clenched fist open, gently but firmly. “You still don’t really trust me.” He placed a kiss to her palm. “I will change that if it takes the rest of my life.”
    “William, it’s not that I don’t—” She shook her head. “And it’s not you, not really. I just have a lot on my mind. A great deal to worry over.”
    “I know that. I want to help you, Anne. I’m aware that the hotel is in trouble, and you’re worried sick.” He pulled back and let her hand go, though he didn’t want to. “Won’t you come inside with me—hands off, swear on my mother’s head—and talk it over? If anyone would understand what you’re up against, it’s me. We’ve discussed your hotel’s situation before.” He grinned. “I’m not doing my goal of getting you into bed any favors to admit this, but I truly do enjoy listening to you and talking to you as much as trying to get you naked.”
    Her soft laughter warmed him. “You’ve been wonderful to let me natter on in the past, but—”
    “You never natter. What’s happened now?”
    She studied him in silence. Finally, “The prospective buyers have threatened to withdraw their offer. They want an answer.”
    “You don’t want to sell, anyway.”
    “We may not have any choice.”
    She looked so small and heartbroken, it was all he could do not to sweep her up in his arms, but that would only complicate things for her.
    “Anne, you know I have money. I could help.”
    Her eyes flashed. “I can’t take it.”
    “Can’t…or won’t?”
    “William, the hotel is Remy’s legacy to his girls. You and he—”
    Were rivals. “That was a million years ago.”
    “What did he tell you every time you tried to buy the hotel in the past?”
    Her tone had cooled. If he weren’t careful, the night would be a total loss, and he instinctively knew he’d have a hell of a time getting her this close and open again.
    “He said no, of course. But I’m not talking about buying it now.” Trying to, yes, but if he told her that, she’d be gone without waiting to hear why he’d put the pieces in place. He had to think how best to handle things, but regardless, he wasn’t letting her go until he figured it out. “Come on.” He put his car in gear and drove under the porte cochere, then parked and switched off the engine. Without waiting for her to agree, he emerged and headed for her door. “Rewind the tape, and we’ll do the last few sentences over. I wouldn’t offer you money if my life depended on it.” He found a grin and hoped it passed muster. “Convincing?”
    She rose so slowly that he expected her to sprint off at any moment. She wouldn’t have to go far to escape him—her mother’s house was only a block away.
    Not that he wouldn’t recapture her before she hit the end of the driveway.
    The pirate metaphors were getting out of hand. That made him smile genuinely.
    “What on earth could you possibly find funny?” Her eyes glistened in the light spilling from his windows. “I’m here with a man who hated my husband, who’s tried to snatch his dream from him more than once in the past, and now you’re trying to—”
    “I