Free A Seductive Proposal by Caris Roane Page A

glass of ice water. She picked up the glass and with fingers that trembled, drew it to her lips then took a sip. She struggled to breathe as she so often did whenever he was near. She made her decision and set the glass down.
    “I’ll need this in writing,” she said, not daring to look at him just yet.
    “I have the contract in my car. Everything’s detailed just as we’ve discussed.”
    “I’ll also want my attorney to review your offer.”
    “Of course.”
    She finally felt able to look at him. “Quint, I still don’t think I get why you’ve been so intent on my winery.”
    At that, he relaxed his shoulders a little. “It’s just an instinct, although a powerful one, that Red Canyon is where the weekend needs to happen. I’m going with my gut on this one. That’s all.”
    “And you’re certain that a nice stay at the Phoenician or The Princess wouldn’t do the job?” Both were extraordinary Phoenix hotels.
    “It’s about connections, all kinds of connections.” He smiled. “This is what I do. I figure out what pieces need to come together and on this deal that includes you. Don’t ask me how I know, I just know.”
    “Okay,” she said at last. “Let me see the contract and have a long talk with my lawyer. I’ll call you as soon as I’ve had a chance to meet with him.”
    “Not good enough. This offer expires tomorrow at five o’clock. I’ll deliver everything I’ve promised but I’m done waiting. It’s now or never, Carly. If you refuse this offer, you won’t hear from me again.”
    “That simple, huh?”
    He nodded. “Absolutely.”
    She returned with him to his car. He opened the trunk and withdrew a folder from his briefcase. “Here you go.”
    In her stunned state, she was about to turn away when he caught her chin in his hand. She looked into extraordinary blue eyes that had grown serious.
    “If we sleep together, that’ll just be an unexpected but very hoped-for bonus.”
    She would have pushed his hand away, but her heart hammered so hard she couldn’t concentrate on anything except the loud thumping in her ears.
    When her mind did engage, her thoughts landed on the various images of the night she’d spent with him in her bed. She became fixed on a third or fourth time when she had been half off the bed and he’d been kneeling on the floor. What he had done to her. She had never been so satisfied nor more surprised.
    She smiled suddenly. She shook her head. Her cheeks felt hot. “I never told you how much I loved that you stayed until dawn. It was really…nice.”
    He let her chin go, but a slight frown dipped between his brows. He lowered his voice. “You kept pulling at my arm and whispering, more. How could I have refused a request like that?”
    Desire crashed over her. She dragged more air into her poor, afflicted lungs. She wanted him…again…now. “I’ll have an answer by five tomorrow,” stumbled out of her throat.
    He nodded, then touched the sensitive underside of her arm. “Are you sure you don’t want a sleepover?”
    At that, she pulled herself together, stepped away from him then forced herself to say, “Let’s just stick to business.” Maybe the hardest words she’d ever spoken.
    He laughed and got into his car. “Tomorrow, then.” The engine purred to life. He guided his BMW into traffic.
    She watched until his car disappeared from sight.
    Her knees wobbled a little as she walked back to Jumpin’ Jeep Tours.
    * * * * * * * * *
    The next day, Carly discovered how useless lawyers could be. Her attorney insisted she couldn’t pass up such a sweet deal. She had hoped for a strong warning that she needed to avoid Quint Barron at all costs. Instead, her counsel had said, you won’t see a deal like this again ever. Take it. I’m sure you can put that hundred grand to good use.
    The truth was, she could. The windfall would make the widows home a breeze to purchase with enough left over to make some much-needed improvements.
    Another thought