Free Married By Midnight by Julianne MacLean Page A

to allow him greater access, “because we really shouldn’t be doing this.”
    “ Why not?” he asked. “I see nothing wrong with it. We are engaged to be married.”
    “ In name only,” she reminded him. “And just because I was ruined once does not mean I am an easy conquest.”
    There. She’d said it, and she was glad she did, for she did not wish there to be any misunderstanding.
    Garrett’s hand stilled at the small of her back and he slowly blinked, then drew back and beheld her with some concern. “I never thought that.”
    “ No?” She posed the question as a challenge, for she would not be taken advantage of. “Are you sure about that?”
    The voices and laughter grew closer.
    He didn’t have a chance to reply before she slid off his lap to sit on the step beside him.
    Her cheeks flushed with heat. Anne took a moment to touch her hair and make sure everything was in order, but felt Garrett watching her.
    “ Forgive me,” he said. “I didn’t plan to kiss you, but I swear on my life, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met.”
    Taken aback by the passion in his words—and the frustrated desire that was clearly evident in his eyes—she was barely conscious of the others rounding the last corner and appearing before them, out of breath, with candles blazing in the darkness.
    “ Upon my word!” Charlotte said, staring at them on the steps. “You two look like you’ve been waiting for hours! You must have chosen every turn correctly.”
    “ It appears we have been soundly defeated,” Devon added.
    “ Was there to be a prize?” Rebecca asked.
    Garrett rose to his feet and spoke with easy humor, which completely masked the intense emotion he’d revealed to Anne just now. “We never discussed that, did we?”
    She was thankful for the distraction, for she was still reeling from the kiss and feared everyone would see the indecent wantonness in her eyes, and regret their choice of a bride for Garrett.
    “ A prize...” Charlotte said, gazing down at Anne, who had not yet risen to her feet. “It should be the lady’s choice. What would you like, Anne? A special cake prepared in the kitchen tomorrow? Or perhaps Garrett should buy you something. A pretty bauble?”
    “ But he is a winner, too,” she declared. “He shouldn’t have to present me with anything. I will therefore choose the cake as prize—something we can all enjoy.” She turned to him. “Do you like chocolate, Garrett?” she asked him.
    He wet his lips, and heaven help her, she melted all over again. He smiled.
    “ Very much so.” He helped her to her feet and their eyes held for a few heart-stopping seconds before he turned to address Devon. “Getting out of here is another contest entirely. Do you think we’ll make it back to the chapel before dawn?”
    He was still holding her hand, and her whole body tingled with awareness at the warmth of his flesh and the discernible might of his large, strong hand, wrapped snugly around hers. Everything about him was so very male and invigorating.
    Then he let go, and the connection was broken. A single breath sailed out of her.
    Anne watched him lead the way out and felt a powerful surge of lust as she recalled what he had said: I swear on my life, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met .
    It was flattery, nothing more, she tried to tell herself, and she must remember that she had been led astray by pretty words once before.
    Nevertheless, as she followed the others out of the catacombs and through the church, then across the cold courtyard, and into the luxurious warmth of the palace, she was overcome by an unfathomable wave of joy that left her feeling bewildered.
    It had been ages since she’d felt part of anything, and this family, that had so warmly welcomed her into their fold, was like a force of nature. There was so much history here, so many secrets she could sense...but did not know the answers to. Life had been difficult here, yet there was