Free The Unsung Hero by Samantha James

ball of orange as it
prepared to slip below the horizon. The endless sheet of water was
bathed in a shimmering shade of amber and gold. Wispy clouds
tinged with lavender and pink lay just above the surface.
    "Made to order just for us, wasn't it?"
    Samantha made no comment, barely able to
breathe for the warmth of the muscular arm still wrapped around
her.
    "The view is even better from upstairs."
    His fingers burned a fiery imprint into her
upper arms. She swallowed. "Is it?" was all she could manage from
the tight knot of awareness in her throat.
    "Mmm." A warm mouth brushed her temple.
    "From.. .the bedroom, I suppose." That
whisper of sound--was it really hers?
    "As a matter of fact, yes. We could watch
that mystical moment when the sun falls below the earth, and
sun-warmed day becomes moon-kissed night..." It would have sounded
corny coming from anyone else's lips. Something jangled in her
brain, but all she could focus on was the sensual magic of his
voice. "All totally innocuous, of course." That voice was now
wrapped in laughter. Did she only imagine the hint of velvet
beneath? Wishful thinking perhaps?
    Ever so gently Jason turned her to face him.
Samantha gazed up into his face, those lean features almost
tender. Those warm, brown eyes were the shade of chocolate and just
as addictive.
    "Of course," she echoed calmly, pulling away
and retreating a few steps. Her eyes swept around the room as if
seeking an escape, stopping on the table, which hadn't yet been
cleared. It was there that she directed her steps, gathering up the
plates and empty casserole dish.
    Jason trailed along behind
her, glasses and cutlery in hand. "Something tells me I've just
made a fatal faux pas ," he said, casting a look at her from the corner of his eye.
"Are you telling me my efforts to please were all in
vain?"
    A ghost of a smile hovered on her lips at his
valiant attempt to try to look wounded. She emptied her armload
onto the kitchen counter. "Not exactly," she conceded in a
carefully neutral tone.
    He raised both eyebrows in a silent
question.
    Samantha made a vague
gesture with one hand. It was clear that the entire atmosphere he'd
created, the wine, the food, the candlelight, was entirely for her
benefit. Was their disturbing exchange yesterday afternoon and his
ultimate challenge to her this morning behind it? What was it he'd
said? Give me an education. Show me how
wrong I am about love. Well, who wouldn't
be impressed by such an effort? It was designed to appeal to a
woman's romantic soul, and wasn't hers more romantic than
most?
    She couldn't help but wonder if he was the
one trying to teach her a lesson. Even more importantly, if they
hadn't had that disturbing conversation, would he have put himself
out? For another woman he was trying to lure into his bed perhaps,
but for her?
    On second thought, she wasn't sure she wanted
to know.
    "I really am flattered,
Jason." At least I think I
am . "But it's just that..." She stopped,
unsure of what she wanted to say.
    He gave her an engaging smile, his teeth very
white against his tan.
    "Well . . ." Damn! Why did he have to smile
like that now? It made her legs feel like melting wax. "The wine,
the candlelight—" all that he had done drifted into her mind "—the
dinner and the..." The balloons! She'd completely forgotten about
them. Small wonder, when one was faced with a man like Jason
Armstrong. What was a houseful of balloons compared to a face and
body like his?
    Jason laughed at her sudden stricken look.
"You did get my present?" he inquired blandly.
    "I... yes. Yes, and they're really very
precious! In fact, it looks like you bought out an entire store..."
She was rattling, he'd think she was a complete idiot! A simple
thank-you would have sufficed, wouldn't it? "I... Thank you. Thank
you so much," she finally finished hurriedly.
    "After seeing your underwear this morning, I
thought you might fancy Valentine's Day in June." A warm smile
curved his lips, and he calmly led her into