Free The Diva Diaries by Karen Anders Page B

heard his very quiet, very fierce one-word epithet.
    â€œDamn.”
    She made her way up the dim staircase to her designated room. Going over to the window, she watched him walk to the barn with Tooter. She was a fool. She had to relegate Sam as a distraction, a nuisance. The diary was her primary concern. Here she’d been in his home for two days and she still hadn’t found even the desk, let alone the diary. Just when she thought she might have a chance to search the house,she saw Sam emerge from the barn. She stepped into the shadows, noticing how he glanced up at her window while he walked. Keep it light. Keep it shallow. She moved to the bed, weary and lonely. She’d just lie down for a moment and wait Sam out. He’d go to bed soon and when he did, she’d look for the diary. A sudden, desperate need to find her grandmother’s legacy gripped her.
    Her gran had talked about love and about time running out. For Jenna, her time ran out the moment she’d picked up the bow and dragged it across the strings of the violin.
    A dedicated musician couldn’t have both a loving family and a successful career. Her own family was proof enough.
    Nope, she didn’t want to get in over her head with Sam.
    So why did it feel as if she were already drowning?

5
    J ENNA WOKE with a start, still in her dress and hose. She’d pulled the comforter over her in the night, so at least she hadn’t been cold. She looked at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was four o’clock. Her internal clock seemed to still be tuned to New York time.
    She let herself drift and when she next opened her eyes, she saw that it was six o’clock. Pushing out from under the covers, she realized that she’d fallen asleep last night while waiting for Sam to do the same. She promised herself that today there’d be no more distractions. Jenna was no closer to discovering where Sam had placed her grandmother’s rolltop desk than she was when she’d first arrived three days ago.
    She stretched and reached back to unzip her dress, but the zipper caught and, no matter how she tugged, she couldn’t get it free.
    She slipped off the edge of the bed and walked to the door, hoping that Maria might be nearby. Jenna peered into the hallway and saw Sam come out of his bedroom. When he saw her, he froze.
    She closed her eyes in mortification when he started forward. “Jenna?”
    â€œCould you…” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œCould I what?” he asked, walking over to her, an intrigued look on his face.
    Jenna turned, closing her eyes. The heat of him permeated her clothing. She smelled the muskiness of his skin. She felt his desire like a tangible force. She felt the power of it, sensed his barely controlled passion. And she wanted, as she’d never wanted before. Just to lean into him to take the burden of her own desire off her shoulders. Just to let it go and see where it led her. But she couldn’t, not now. She needed to have time alone to search his house. If she enticed him into her room, where would it lead? She could see herself spending the whole day in bed with this man.
    She felt his hot breath against her ear. “What do you want, Jenna?” he whispered.
    Her voice a hoarse rasp, she asked, “Could you please unzip my dress? I fell asleep with my clothes on last night. Now the zipper is caught.”
    â€œSure. Is that all you need?”
    His gentle fingers found the zipper and he fiddled with the tab, separating the fabric from the zipper’s teeth. His fingers brushed her skin. She shivered and felt his body heat against her back like a lick of flame. He pulled the tab down her back. His fingers trailed along her spine in a tingling slide. They were strong, masculine hands that were very good at holding a woman, stroking, caressing. Every touch seemed intimate beyond her belief.
    â€œThat’s all I need for now,” she replied.
    The need