Free High-Society Seduction by Maxine Sullivan Page A

decides to keep us apart and give us a room with twin beds, and that could be very likely,” he said cynically. His gaze caught hold of her. “Would it be so awful sharing a bed with me?”
    Her stomach rolled with nerves. “That’s not the point, Adam.”
    “At least you don’t deny you want me.”
    “I—”
    “We’re both adults, Jenna. We won’t be hurting anyone if we take this further and sleep together.”
    “Making love was not part of our bargain.” He was a man who’d have plenty of lovers. He had to realize by now that she didn’t sleep around. “I’ll come for the weekend, and I’ll even share a room with you…” God help her. “But I’m not sleeping with you.”
    He gave an indifferent shrug. “Oh, well. I tried.”
    She didn’t know if she was more disappointed that he had given up so easily, or dismayed that she was disappointed. Then she eyed him speculatively. Or had he given up? They still had to share a room together this weekend, didn’t they? He was probably just playing with her.
    Adam pushed to his feet. “I thought I’d drive us there myself on Saturday morning instead of Friday evening, and we can come back after lunch Sunday. That way we only have the one night to worry about sharing a bed.” He smiled down at her. “Not that it’s a worry to me.”
    After he left, Jenna lay awake until the early hours. She rather thought even one night with Adam Roth might be too much.
    Way…too much.



Five
    J enna grew more apprehensive the closer they got to the Grampians National Park. She should be enjoying the richness of the deep blue sky and the picturesque rural view on either side of the highway, but being under Chelsea’s watchful eyes at the Mayoral Ball a week ago had been exhausting. She couldn’t shrug off the feeling that a weekend of Chelsea might prove too much.
    “I’m not sure this is such a good idea, Adam.”
    He shot her a sideways glance. “Relax.”
    Relax? This wasn’t just about Chelsea. With him looking so handsome in gray trousers and a black polo shirt, a woman would have to be dead to be able to relax next to him.
    “Couldn’t you have just told Todd no?” she had to point out. “Or said we had other plans? Perhaps you could have said you had to work. Better yet, that I had to work.”
    “You agreed to do this.”
    “I know, but—”
    “Accept it, Jenna.”
    She sighed. “I suppose so.”
    Soon after, Adam needed a break from the driving so they stopped at a small café for coffee before getting back on the road again. They drove through historic gold-mining towns and the many wineries in the area, and the journey would have been exciting if her stomach hadn’t been tied in knots. Not even the peekaboo glimpses of the Grampian Mountains in the distance eased her anxiety.
    Finally, the mountains were growing closer and they were turning onto an unassuming dirt road outside one of the main towns. They traveled along it for a short distance before turning into an open gate sided by two stone pillars. The place was certainly secluded.
    Jenna’s eyes widened as she looked ahead to where the road ended about half a mile in the distance. “Good grief. That’s their vacation home? That’s a mansion with a capital M. ”
    He looked faintly surprised. “They do a lot of entertaining.”
    She gave a hollow laugh. “So do lots of people, but not everyone has a vacation home like this. Most families are lucky to have one house, let alone two.”
    His jaw thrust forward. “I know it.”
    Something made her push. “I don’t think you do.” Undaunted, she continued, “Doesn’t your family have a vacation home? Somewhere you get away from the city? Didn’t I read that your family has a yacht?”
    He didn’t look pleased at the inquisition. “The Lady Laura is named after my mother.” He paused. “And we have a vacation home in far north Queensland. It’s on a secluded beach so that we can have some privacy.”
    “A tropical retreat,”