Free Inventing Herself by Sommer Marsden Page A

sex followed by really good food. It didn’t get much better than that. ‘I mean, besides Chinese people, that is,’ she said with a shrug.
    He laughed, finishing his sandwich in one big bite. He chewed thoughtfully. ‘Women like my sister, who went there just to travel and unexpectedly met the love of her life there.’
    Unexpectedly met the love of her life there … The words echoed through her. She shook her head, reminding herself not to be that girl. Not to find something just because she was looking for it. If she’d been searching for the perfect black handbag she’d most likely have found it today. Only to discover in a week or so that it didn’t suit her. That was the biggest risk – finding something just because you were looking for it. She’d been searching her soul for that something more and had stumbled over Tate. It didn’t mean he was the answer. She had to keep that thought, that logic, forefront in her mind.
    He touched her forehead and she startled. ‘You in there?’
    ‘I am.’ She tried on a smile but it felt false – stretched too tight. Too wide, maybe. Like something from a horror film.
    ‘You overanalysing our morning together?’
    ‘Maybe.’ She forced a laugh. ‘How did you know?’
    ‘It’s written all over your face.’
    ‘Ah, I didn’t know I was that readable.’
    He shrugged. ‘Only to someone who’s been the book before.’
    ‘You?’
    ‘Me.’ He took another swig of iced tea. ‘I hung my hopes on a person. It didn’t work. Right after Marcia met Glenn. I thought that’s what I should have. That’s what I should do.’
    ‘And?’ Her stomach turned a little.
    ‘And it failed miserably. I found a woman who was all about what I could give her, what I had to offer.’
    ‘You have a lot to offer.’ She found she meant it, despite the fact that they’d just met. Despite the fact that she was flying on instinct alone.
    ‘I do. But not money and jewellery and –’ he chuckled ‘– riches.’
    ‘What? You’re not a pirate? I am so let down.’
    His hand covered hers and the worry fled some, leaving her with a warm, pulsing attraction.
    ‘She would list to Marcia all she wanted. A white gold engagement ring, a ruby for our one-year anniversary, a Jaguar …’
    ‘So she didn’t want much,’ Sophie joked.
    His eyes twinkled. ‘Nah. Just the normal everything money could buy.’
    ‘Ah, that’s not too much to ask, right?’
    He stroked the back of her hand absentmindedly. She tried to recall ever being so comfortable with someone she’d just met touching her. She couldn’t. Even as she considered it, she turned her hand up to take his. He gripped it, squeezed, let it go.
    ‘Right.’ Tate sat back, away from her. She felt the absence. ‘I should give you space. You’re clearly weirded out. Just because I was there on your moonlit search for your something more, and maybe I said some Zen magic words, doesn’t mean anything in the long run. I don’t want to –’ he looked around as if searching for the word ‘– crowd you.’
    ‘Spend the day,’ she blurted. ‘I mean, you are leaving for China tomorrow, right? Not as if you can influence me from there, can you?’
    Tate twisted an imaginary moustache. ‘Oh, I have my ways.’
    ‘Shower?’ she said, changing the subject – tempting him. Thoughts of getting him naked and wet and bubbly pushed all other worries and thoughts from her mind. He was leaving tomorrow. Totally safe. Totally fine.
    ‘You twisted my arm.’
    He was muscular. Even more muscular than she really realised until her fingers were skating over his body. His cock responded to her gentle touch, so she stroked him in a loose fist to feel it harden and lengthen in her palm.
    ‘I like the way you touch me,’ he said, softly. His eyes drifted closed and something in her chest crimped. He looked so vulnerable that way. Wet and willing, eyes shut, at her mercy.
    Without pausing to consider it, she angled the spray onto