Free Sealing the Deal by Sandy James Page A

After raking his fingers through his hair, he tried again. “B, p-please. Please move in with me. I want Emma here. I want you here.”
    “Why?”
    A man could only take so much provocation. Her belligerent frown that wouldn’t scare a fly. Her brown eyes that flashed with fire. The way she crossed her arms under her full breasts. Everything about her made him want to kiss her.
    So he did.
    Robert grabbed her hand and tugged Beth into his arms. He stopped when his lips were almost touching hers. “Because of… this .”
    * * *
    When Robert kissed her, every ounce of Beth’s anger evaporated. All there was in her world was the feel of his warmth surrounding her, invading her. His lips were firm and insistent, and she opened her lips before he even tried to nudge them open. A throaty groan followed as his tongue thrust into her mouth, rubbing across her tongue in a caress that reached down to her soul.
    Instead of looping her arms around his neck, she grew bolder, pressing her palms against his butt. She’d admired it for so long as she’d watched him work. He had such a sexy backside.
    The kiss went on and on, drowning her thoughts of buying a place of her own. She wanted to move into this gorgeous house with this handsome man she cared for, but she wasn’t sure why he’d extended the invitation. Every time she asked him, he evaded a true answer.
    As though he realized her mind was wandering, Robert eased back, still keeping her in his embrace. “Don’t you want to see where this is going?”
    “This?”
    He nodded. “Us. If we’re here, spending time together, maybe I can figure out why I can’t keep my hands off you.”
    “That was blunt.”
    With a little laugh, he shrugged. “I can’t stop touching you. It’s the honest truth.”
    She had to ask, but finding the words wasn’t easy. “Would you… I mean, would we… Do you expect…” She sounded like an idiot.
    A smile bloomed on his face that told her he understood. “You’ll have your own room, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    “It was. I just wasn’t sure.”
    “Neither of us is ready for more. Right now, we need to focus on Emma.” Robert grasped her shoulders again. “Look, B… it’s a good idea. Besides. I w-want you two here. With me. I’m kinda lonely.”
    “Lonely?”
    He nodded. “Admit it. This is the r-right thing for all of us. Don’t let your stubborn pride convince you otherwise.”
    He was right. Of course he was right. Beth only wished she could have a few moments of being able to read his mind to know what was truly driving his invitation. Was it how he felt about her? Or how he felt about Emma?
    When Robert talked about them moving in, he spoke of how much he loved Emma. Would he even be interested in me if Emma hadn’t come into my life?
    Not once in all the years Beth had known him had he ever shown the smallest amount of attraction to her. Now he claimed he couldn’t leave her alone. It seemed so convenient that the fascination appeared when Emma did.
    He’d hit the nail squarely on the head when he’d called her stubborn. It was Beth’s worst fault. Would she let that pride and a touch of unreasonable jealousy be the reasons she denied Emma the privilege of living in this veritable mansion?
    “I should pay rent at least,” she insisted.
    “Nope. You can earn your keep by helping me finish this place. We need to choose furnishings; then there’s the basement to work on. You’ll do plenty to work the rent off.”
    “You’re being ridiculous, Robert. I can’t live here rent-free.”
    “Pay for your groceries, then.”
    “I was going to do that anyway.” If this was going to happen, she didn’t want to feel like a charity case. “I won’t take a dime for decorating this house—or any others for as long as I live here. All right?”
    “We’ve got a deal!” With a quick kiss, he whirled around to fish Emma out of her seat. “Hear that, squirt? We’re gonna be roomies!”

Chapter