Temptation

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Book: Temptation by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online
Authors: Nora Roberts
stables.”
    â€œOf course you can, Roberta.” Eden rubbed her thumb and forefinger together, trying fruitlessly to rid herself of the goo. “And you don’t even have to bribe me with marshmallows.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYes, really.” Attracted despite herself, Eden ruffled Roberta’s hair. “Miss Bartholomew and I will work it into your schedule.”
    â€œGee, thanks, Miss Carlbough.”
    â€œBut you’ll have to work on your posting.”
    Roberta’s nose wrinkled only a little. “Okay. But I wish we could do stuff like barrel racing. I’ve seen it on TV.”
    â€œWell, I don’t know about that, but you might progress to small jumps before the end of camp.”
    Eden had the pleasure of seeing Roberta’s eyes saucer with pleasure. “No fooling?”
    â€œNo fooling. As long as you work on your posting.”
    â€œI will. And I’ll be better than Linda, too. Wow, jumps.” She spun in an awkward pirouette. “Thanks a lot, Miss Carlbough. Thanks a lot.”
    She was off in a streak, undoubtedly to spread the word. If Eden knew Roberta, and she was beginning to, she was certain the girl would soon have talked herself into a gold medal for equestrian prowess at the next Olympic Games.
    But, as she watched Roberta spin from group to group, Eden realized she wasn’t thinking of the past any longer; nor was she regretting. She was smiling. As one of the counselors began to strum a guitar, Eden licked marshmallow goop from her fingers.
    â€œNeed some help with that?”
    With her fingers still in her mouth, Eden turned. She should have known he’d come. Perhaps, in her secret thoughts, she had hoped he would. Now she found herself thrusting her still-sticky fingers behind her back.
    He wondered if she knew how lovely she looked, with the fire at her back and her hair loose on her shoulders. There was a frown on her face now, but he hadn’t missed that one quick flash of pleasure. If he kissed her now, would he taste that sweet, sugary flavor she had been licking from her fingers? Through it would he find that simmering, waiting heat he’d tasted once before? The muscles in his stomach tightened, even as he dipped his thumbs into his pockets and looked away from her toward the fire.
    â€œNice night for a bonfire.”
    â€œCandy claims she arranged it that way.” Confident there was enough distance between them, and that there were enough people around them, Eden allowed herself to relax. “We weren’t expecting any company.”
    â€œI spotted your smoke.”
    That made her glance up and realize how far the smoke might travel. “I hope it didn’t worry you. We notified the fire department.” Three girls streaked by behind them. Chase glanced their way and had them lapsing into giggles. Eden caught her tongue in her cheek. “How long did it take you to perfect it?”
    With a half smile, Chase turned back to her. “What?”
    â€œThe deadly charm that has females crumpling at your feet?”
    â€œOh, that.” He grinned at her. “I was born with it.”
    The laugh came out before she could stop it. To cover her lapse, Eden crossed her arms and took a step backward. “It’s getting warm.”
    â€œWe used to have a bonfire on the farm every Halloween. My father would carve the biggest pumpkin in the patch and stuff some overalls and a flannel shirt with straw. One year he dressed himself up as the Headless Horseman and gave every kid in the neighborhood a thrill.” Watching the fire, he remembered and wondered why until tonight he hadn’t thought of continuing the tradition. “My mother would give each of the kids a caramel apple, then we’d sit around the fire and tell ghost stories until we’d scared ourselves silly. Looking back, I think my father got a bigger kick out of it than any of us kids.”
    She could see it, just

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