Free Kidnapping His Bride by Karen Erickson

bring up in front of this man was old family resentments and how she always felt as if she stood in her sister’s shadow. Talk about depressing. If she continued to rattle on like this, eventually Rafe would start thinking less of her too, just like everyone else did.
    Worse, he might even become more interested in Annalisa, and that was the very last thing she wanted to happen. Despite her breaking off their engagement, she didn’t want to see Rafe with her sister.
    That was just…wrong.
    Reassuringly enough, he still held her hand, his long, strong fingers wrapped around hers, their palms pressed close. The entire moment felt downright intimate as they stood together in his quiet, beautiful apartment, the city spread out before them. The sun shone bright and hot through the window, warming their faces. Rafe’s dark hair gleamed, his stubble-covered cheeks tempting her to reach out and clasp his face in her hands, pull him to her. Feel those plush lips close over hers, his big hands gripping her waist, holding her steady as she drowned in his taste. Forgetting everything but him. And her. Imagining the two of them together.
    Forever.
    Blinking, she stared up at him, hoping he couldn’t read her mind. A few shared, heady kisses and she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about kissing him again. And again and again.  
    Curiosity got the best of her as she studied him covertly, drinking in his tall, lean and muscular body. What would it be like, to be with him so…intimately? Not that they had a chance now, what with her calling everything off, but how would he react if he found out she was a virgin? Would he think her a silly, scared little girl? Or would he be pleased that she saved herself for him?
    Because she had. She’d been with no other man. She wanted only to be with Rafe. Thought it only right considering they were going to be married. Her virginity would’ve been a gift to him.
    Now it would be a gift to someone else. She’d let him go. He wasn’t hers any longer.
    Tears threatened, and she shook her head, pushing her useless thoughts away. He frowned as he peered down at her. “Are you all right?” he asked.
    “Fine.” She nodded furiously, her hair brushing against her cheeks. “Really, I am.”
    “As long as you say so.” He released his grip on her hand and she felt oddly bereft, which was ridiculous. “So. You never did answer. What would you like to do today? Considering you’re my guest, I think it should be your choice.”
    Her brain fried just looking at his handsome face. How could he expect her to decide what to do and see while they were in New York over the next few days? “Um…” Her voice trailed off. “Maybe see the Empire State Building? I’ve never been.”
    He smiled indulgently, and she wondered if he thought she was a dimwit. “I can take you on the special out-of-towner tour if that’s what you’d like.”
    That sounded incredibly boring. He was a sophisticated, worldly man. He didn’t want to drive her around New York looking at touristy landmarks. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m sure that sounds incredibly boring to you. Taking me around like I’m some sort of silly tourist.”
    “You are, though, aren’t you? And I don’t mind. Really. I know I’d enjoy spending time with you, wherever we might go.”
    Her cheeks heated at his sweet words. Did he really mean that? The sincere expression on his face told her, yes, he did. “Whatever you want to do, I’m perfectly agreeable. I’d be happy to stay here and do nothing if that’s what you’d prefer.”
    “Absolutely not. When was the last time you were in New York?”
    “Um, probably over ten years ago, maybe longer. When we used to come to the States, we always went to Chicago and rarely anywhere else. I have family there,” she said.
    “Right.” He nodded. “And the U.S. location for Campioni is there as well.”
    “Yes. That too.” She wanted to roll her eyes at herself. Their