Free The Price of Scandal by Kim Lawrence Page A

Hannah’s situation—not, of course, that Hannah would ever find herself in a position where she had to live on sardines on toast for a week and say she didn’t want to go to the cinema with her friends because she didn’t have any money.
    ‘The responsibility is no longer yours, cara . The professionals are on the job. Take a back seat and let it go.’ It was easy to see that letting go was an alien concept to her.
    Neve bit her lip. ‘But—’
    He held up his uninjured hand. ‘You’re not in control. Why not enjoy the experience?’
    The astonishing suggestion drew her incredulous gaze to his face. ‘Enjoy!’ she echoed, repeating the concept to herself. Enjoy being stranded God knew where with a beautiful, devastatingly handsome stranger—actually when you put it like that she realised there were more than a few women who would pay for the experience!
    ‘A smile,’ he approved. ‘That’s an improvement. Think of it as an adventure. How many people get the opportunity to escape the real world even for a few hours? No stress, no responsibilities, no emails or phone.’ He had convinced himself but the redhead’s expression suggested she would be a harder nut to crack.
    Neve compressed her lips into a prim line. ‘I don’t like adventures.’
    ‘There are many kinds of adventures, cara .’
    The low, intimate drawl sent a shivery shudder through her body. She had no intention of even trying to translate the meaning lurking in that seemingly innocent observation. Instead she dragged her gaze free of his bold, uncomfortably perceptive stare and abruptly changed the subject, asking in a bright voice, ‘Can I do something to help? The wounds should be cleaned.’ Even before the words had left her lips she was panicking about the thought of touching him, and not just because the idea of hurting him made her stomach churn.
    ‘Thanks for the offer, but I think the easiest way to clean these—’ he flexed his shoulder experimentally and struggled to repress a wince ‘—is to take a shower.’
    ‘Good idea!’ she enthused, relieved that her offer had been rejected.
    ‘I hope there’s hot water.’ Though possibly under the circumstances cold might be more appropriate. His icy adventure had not lessened the lust that had him firmly in its grip.
    The night ahead held a lot of interesting possibilities. He felt some of his tiredness fall away as he climbed the stairs and considered them.

Chapter Six
    U NABLE to stop following him with her eyes, Neve watched until Severo vanished from view.
    She still hadn’t moved when a few moments later she heard the sound of water running, loudly, as though he hadn’t bothered to close the door behind him.
    Some people might take that as an invitation to join him.
    Neve gave a shocked groan and closed her eyes, her face scrunched into a grimace as she folded her arms onto the counter top. With a sigh she rested her head on them and struggled to eject the sybaritic image of the tall Italian standing under the spray, the warm jets of water cascading over his brown skin.
    What is wrong with me?
    Up until this point, focused on Hannah, she had been able to block out the effect that Severo Constanza had on her. Now she was forced to reluctantly confront the situation.
    She was attracted to him, and why not? He looked incredible—definitely the sexiest man she had ever encountered. She would have to be dead from the neck down not to be affected by his brand of raw sexuality!
    It wasn’t as though it was anything deep and meaningful, and it wasn’t as though she would ever do anything about it.
    She found him sexually attractive, but she found lightning storms attractive too—she didn’t have to go outside to feel the crackle of electricity in the air and risk getting struck to enjoy their raw primal beauty. She could do that from the safety of a warm room.
    Severo was good to look at, but touching was definitely off the agenda.
    Even if the opportunity arose?
    His