Read Online One Secret Night by Yvonne Lindsay - Free Book Online Page A

toward her with the sun at his back to put her at a disadvantage?
    “Part of its history, not its present.” He swung one long denim-clad leg over the back of the horse and, letting go of the reins, kicked out of the other stirrup to drop, with the finesse of a large cat, to the ground. He took a few steps toward her.
    “Aren’t you worried he’ll run away?” she asked, gesturing toward the horse.
    Ethan shook his head. “He knows his place.”
    Isobel felt her lips pull into a smile. She had to hand it to the guy. He was nothing if not confident and completely self-assured. Her eyes raked over him, taking in the slightly mussed hair from his ride, the beat of his pulse at the open neck of his shirt, the way his cuffs were rolled up slightly exposing strong forearms. She rapidly averted her gaze before she did anything stupid, like start to send him the wrong signals.
    Ethan Masters obviously knew his place, too. Master of all he surveyed. Looking out over the vineyard and the buildings below them, she had to admit that it was quite an estate that he lorded over. But that didn’t mean she answered to him.
    Ignoring every cell in her body, which demanded she stay within Ethan’s orbit, she took a few steps away.
    “I think I’ll head back.”
    “So soon?”
    There was a note to his voice that she didn’t quite understand. Half snark, half enticement. He was a conundrum, all right. Last night he’d made it clear that she was persona non grata. At least as far as he was concerned. And yet, just now, he must have seen her here and had chosen to join her. He could easily have avoided talking to her.
    Isobel shrugged. “I’ve been here awhile.”
    “Don’t you want to hear the history behind Masters’ Rise? Most do.”
    “I’m not most people, though, am I?”
    He cocked his head slightly to one side, as if he was seeing her again but for the first time. “No, you’re definitely not.”
    “It’s not my habit to look at the past,” she felt compelled to add. “I’m more about the here and now.”
    “An interesting trait,” he commented.
    “One I thought you might appreciate, given that you seem to want to forget we met before last night,” she answered, the challenge clear in her voice.
    “Touché,” he said with a quirk of his lips. “Look, I’m sorry for how I reacted last night. It was uncalled for.”
    Isobel stared in surprise. An apology? From Ethan? Goodness—maybe the moon really was made of blue cheese after all.
    “Apology accepted,” she managed to say, biting her tongue to prevent herself from adding a smart-mouthed rejoinder.
    Ethan gave a brief nod. “If you’re heading back now, do you want a ride?”
    “On that?” she asked.
    There was little that frightened Isobel in this world, but horses were very near the top of that short list. In fact, she’d rather be sheltering under gunfire from tribal militia than climb on board that creature. No one said fear had to be rational.
    “Afraid?”
    There was a distinct challenge in that single word.
    “Definitely,” she said. “Thanks, but I’ll walk.”
    “I won’t let any harm come to you.” He held out a hand. “Come on. Don’t you trust me?”
    She shook her head. “After last night, no. You made your feelings about me being here quite clear.”
    “Perhaps I’m merely being a good host.”
    Isobel snorted her disbelief. “Look, I said I’m happy to stay out of your way as much as I can, so how about you let me do that?”
    Ethan fixed her with a hard stare, his chiseled lips set into a firm line of disapproval. Clearly, he was used to being obeyed, especially in his own domain. She held his gaze with her chin tilted up. Obedience had never been her strongest suit.
    “Fine,” he said after what felt like long minutes rather than seconds. “Tamsyn mentioned at breakfast that she plans to pick you up at the cottage at lunchtime for your full tour of the property today. Don’t keep her waiting.”
    Ethan swung up