Free High-Society Seduction by Maxine Sullivan Page B

she mocked. “How nice. Everyone should have one.” She knew it was nerves, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from running off at the mouth.
    He shot her a dark glare as he pulled up in front of the mansion. Then he cut the engine and turned to her fully. “You seem to have a problem with anyone who has money.”
    She went on the defensive. “When it’s built on other people’s money, I do.”
    His mouth tightened. “I know you’re on edge, but do me a favor. Try not to pick an argument in front of the others.”
    “Or?”
    “You won’t like the result.”
    “Is that a—”
    Adam’s door flew open and Chelsea stuck her head in the car. “Welcome, Adam,” she said, a glowing light of excitement in her eyes as she put her hand on his arm and practically pulled him from the seat.
    Todd opened the passenger-side door. “Yes, welcome to our humble abode, Jenna,” he said, smiling at her. “Here, let me help you out.”
    Jenna quickly pulled herself together and took advantage of his outstretched hand. “Thank you, Todd.” Once on her feet, she glanced across the roof of the car and saw Chelsea hanging off Adam’s arm like some sort of expensive accessory. Jenna had dressed in a pantsuit she thought was becoming, but up against Chelsea she felt like she should be ushering people to their seats. The only thing she was missing was a flashlight, she mused with self-derision.
    Todd tucked Jenna’s arm in his. “Did you have a good trip?” he asked, as the other two came around the car.
    “Yes, it’s a lovely drive in the country.” She shot Adam a quick look that harked back to their conversation about the rich. His eyes narrowed in reply.
    “Is everything okay?” Chelsea asked, evidently catching the tension in the air, looking from one to the other.
    Adam smoothly extricated himself from Chelsea’s clutches. “Jenna gets a little carsick at times,” he explained. “Are you feeling better now, darling?” he asked with fake concern.
    Jenna was sure Chelsea gave the tiniest start at the endearment, as she did herself. Goodness, if he was using endearments now she really was going to feel woozy.
    She cleared her throat. “A little.”
    Chelsea soon recovered with a hopeful smile. “Perhaps you’d like to take a quick lie down before lunch then, Jenna? We won’t eat for a few hours yet. We’ll look after Adam, so don’t you worry about that.”
    Jenna rather thought it was more Chelsea who would look after him. Still, she smiled gratefully and avoided Adam’s eyes. “Yes, I think I would like to lie down,” she said, needing some time away from him…from them… all of them. “That’s if you really don’t mind, Chelsea?”
    The other woman beamed at her, friends for life right at this minute. “Of course not!” In one swift movement, Chelsea moved her husband aside and slipped her arm in Jenna’s. “Some of the others arrived earlier, but don’t feel obligated to rush. Take as long as you need.”
    In next to no time, they were inside the magnificent foyer and Jenna was handed over to the housekeeper. Then Chelsea and Todd took Adam off to another part of the house to meet the other guests. If she’d cared, Jenna would have smarted a little at being dumped so expertly. As it was, she could only be thankful that she was being shown to a suite with a sitting room plus a small private balcony, and that she had it to herself for now. It served Adam right for threatening her back there in the car.
    Then she looked at the king-size bed.
    Oh, heavens.

    “Time for lunch, Jenna.”
    Jenna’s eyelids flew open and she looked straight into Adam’s eyes. She became instantly aware that his irises were blue and darker somehow. Had he been watching her? She blinked in panic and sat up, and he straightened away from the bed.
    “You could have let me sleep longer,” she grumbled, trying not to let him see how he affected her.
    “No chance. You got away with sneaking in here before. Now I