Tempting Adam. Dorie Graham

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СКАЧАТЬ KEEPING SECRETS. Adam frowned later that evening as Lauren pulled her meat loaf from the oven, a mysterious smile curving her lips. She’d never kept anything from him before. What could it be? Steam rose around them, filling the kitchen with the spicy scent.

      Beside her, he inhaled deeply, his worry easing with the distraction. If she ever realized how easily she could control him with the promise of her home cooking, he’d be in big trouble.

      “Ah, I knew you still had it in you.” His gaze fell hungrily on the delicacy. “It’s a rare treat. You’ve been holding out on me.”

      With a shake of her head, she set the pan on the stove. “You know I’ve been busy.” She cast him a sideways glance. “And I’m not getting into another argument about my long work hours. I’m doing something productive and worthwhile with my life. Nights like this will have to remain rare treats.”

      “I can help you round up more business. Then you could hire an assistant to help out.”

      “I appreciate the few clients you’ve referred. And I’ll certainly follow up on every lead you send my way, but you know how I feel about you trying to fix all my problems.”

      “It doesn’t hurt you to accept a little help now and then.”

      “And I have and I thank you. But I’m a big girl. This is my agency and it’s my responsibility to generate the business. You can’t do everything for me.”

      Adam popped the top on a beer he’d pulled from the refrigerator. He handed the drink to her, before grabbing another for himself. He let the conversation drop. They’d discussed her work habits too many times already. Not that he’d quit doing what he could to round up clients for her. He ran into so many people while playing tennis and golf, that it wasn’t an effort to scrape up a referral or two. He just didn’t have to tell her what he was doing.

      He took a sip and let his thoughts drift. Funny how the moment he’d said he needed a wife, he’d known it was true. Yes, this was what he wanted. A home-cooked meal and someone to share it with. Sipping wine at the local bistro just didn’t cut it anymore.

      Not that Lauren spent her evenings casually sipping wine, unless she was courting a new client. Then there was nothing casual about it. The woman spent way too much time with her nose to the grindstone. Maybe she’d eventually come to realize that work did not make the world go round.

      He saluted her with his can, too relaxed to argue with her. Maybe she would enjoy this off night enough to begin wanting a personal life for herself again. “It doesn’t get better than this.”

      She raised her beer in return. “Another big account or two would help.” After taking a long swallow, she continued, “But I have to admit spending time in the kitchen wasn’t so bad.”

      His gaze traveled over Kamira’s mini jungle of plants that softened the white cabinets and the tan and white–striped walls. Lauren stood framed by the stove and the assortment of pots and pans brimming with the side dishes she’d taken such pleasure in creating, even though she rarely indulged in her old pastime anymore. Her face radiated contentment.

      Again, that mysterious smile flickered across her lips.

      Was it the mere act of cooking that had brought on that glow, or was she really hiding something?

      “So, how’s everything going?” he asked.

      “Great. Finalized that deal with the car wash.”

      “I didn’t mean with work.”

      A soft pink flushed her cheeks. “What makes you ask?”

      “I don’t know. There’s something…different about you tonight.” When was the last time he’d seen her blush? He shifted, trying to pinpoint exactly what was different about her.

      She busied herself with transferring food into serving dishes. “Did you notice the roses on your way in?”

      He glanced through the kitchen’s archway toward the foyer. A bunch of white roses filled a vase on a table near the door. “So, who sent you roses?”

      Her eyes brightened and her lips curved into a smile. “Don’t know. Kamira thinks I have a secret admirer.”

      “Ah, this wouldn’t have anything to do with that talk we had earlier?” He couldn’t keep the slight annoyance from his voice as he helped her move the dishes to the drop-leaf table.

      “No. You think I’d anonymously send myself flowers, just to prove a point to you?”

      He laughed, perplexed. “Of course not.” Why was he annoyed? “It’s just a strange coincidence, don’t you think?”

      “I’m as surprised as you are.”

      “And you have no idea who sent them?”

      “No, but I have to admit it’s very flattering. Which brings us back to our earlier conversation. Romancing the woman of your choice is definitely the way to go.”

      She cocked her head. “I hadn’t thought about it in exactly these terms, but the whole secret-admirer thing does add a nice touch.”

      He made a deliberate effort to relax his jaw. So Lauren had a secret admirer. She’d had a fair number of men in her life, and that had never bothered him before. Wasn’t this what he’d been pestering her about over the past months—encouraging her to find a life outside of work?

      She was a phenomenal woman, a flower among thorns. With her golden beauty and welcoming way, she was bound to draw masculine attention. Her allure lay not only in the deep green of her eyes and the generous swell of her hips and breasts—though those were enticement enough—but also in the patience and love she extended to all lucky enough to fall into her life.

      Adam had always considered himself fortunate in that respect. Though his parents had never seen their way to spending more than a two-week span in his presence, Lauren had remained steadfast by his side for well over twenty years.

      “You need to be careful, though,” he said. “He could be anyone.”

      “Don’t go getting all protective on me, Adam. Whoever sent those roses is the sensitive type. I can’t imagine he’d be dangerous.”

      “At least he’s not ostentatious in his gift giving. I hate gift buying for its pure material value.”

      She turned toward him, her hands planted on her hips. “I never meant it that way.”

      Waving his hand in a gesture of peace, he continued, “In this case, the value is on the thought, since the sender remains anonymous.”

      “Well, it does build a sense of expectation, which is kind of nice. Of course, we could be making a mountain out of a molehill. This could be an isolated incident.”

      Adam appraised her a moment. In the soft light of the kitchen, with her cheeks flushed and her eyes glowing, Lauren was one hell of an attractive woman—a desirable woman.

      As he’d done so many times in the past, he stifled the thought. Somehow it just seemed wrong to think of her in that way. She was like a sister to him. She’d surely be horrified to know he harbored a СКАЧАТЬ