Free Brent's Law by Ylette Pearson

concerns.” A flash of pain shot across his face, but it was gone so quickly she thought she might have imagined it.
    Besides owning the sugar cane fields, he managed a successful export business and, except for receiving start-up capital, he never used his family’s money to make his own. He’d repaid the start-up capital within the first year of operating his own business. From the balance sheets in the divorce case, she knew just how wealthy he was and her admiration for Brent grew. Contrary to popular belief, this man worked his tail off to ensure his own success.
    When dusk fell, she was deliciously tired from their walk and the unusual amount of exercise she’d had during the afternoon. After a light dinner, he drew her onto the couch in the lounge.
    Her back rested against his chest and the warmth and security of his arm hugging her, forced her eyes shut.
    “What attracted you to a woman as old as me?”
    “Does your age matter? Do you still see me in terms of age?”
    Did she? When had she last thought about the age difference between them? “No, I don’t. I’m simply trying to understand why you would want me, when you could have any supermodel in the country and outside at your beck and call.”
    “I guess I’m simply not attracted to them. When I saw you in the office, I knew I needed to have you.”
    “It couldn’t be so simple. Nothing in life is ever uncomplicated.”
    He stroked her hair. “It is, if you allow it to be.”
    They watched the darkness fall in silence and she rested her head against his shoulder. Under her palm, the coarse hair on his forearm was emphasized by gooseflesh and she suppressed an involuntary shiver.
    “Let’s get to bed. Tomorrow I want to show you the plantations and the best time is at daybreak.”
    He pulled her up, but didn’t let her go. Instead, he pulled her against him, circled her head with his hand and captured her lips in his. The kiss had nothing of the morning’s ardor, but was achingly sweet. When he let her go, he tugged a strand of her hair behind her ear and gave a lopsided grin.
    “As much as I want to promise you a repeat of this morning, I’m afraid my leg has caught up with me.”
    She smiled. “Wow, a man not afraid to admit he can’t take the punch. Stop the presses.”
    His eyes crinkled and his laugh reverberated through the room, turning her insides to mush. She sobered immediately. Mush was no good. Mush meant emotions she couldn’t afford.
    “Get your ass into bed. Your libido will survive a couple of hours without feeding and so will mine.”
    Later when she crawled into bed beside him, her heart contracted. He pulled her toward him and enveloped her in his warmth. He buried his face in her neck.
    “Hmm, you smell nice.”
    “You’re not so bad yourself.” She gently pushed at his shoulders. “Now get some sleep, big boy. We don’t want to jeopardize your recovery any more than we already have.”
    He grinned. “I’ll make you eat those words soon.”
    “What? That I want you to recover?” The innocence in her voice might have been convincing if she didn’t have a lump clogging up her throat.
    He stroked her hair. “Thanks for coming with me, for being here.”
    She managed a nod before she turned around and forced him onto his other side. He settled after she flattened her ridiculously small frame against the back of his much larger one. She buried her nose in his skin, inhaling the pure, unadulterated male smell, and the mushiness in her heart increased.
    Oh hell, she was in more trouble than she’d realized. Somewhere during the course of the afternoon, he had crept into a place in her heart she’d kept under lock and key for decades. She’d made the wrong choice this morning. She should have stayed at home. Now, regardless of what happened, her heart contracted at the thought of saying goodbye to this man. And she had to. Soon.
    But not yet. They were both adults and she would get over the sudden tenderness she