Andrea Kane Read Free

wildly beautiful. Although Sherburgh was not far inland, Braden had never noticed the house on the cliffs that Kassie had shown him to be hers. Now he looked up at it again, realizing that it was surrounded on three sides by the sea.
    “Are there paths up there in the cliffs?” he asked.
    Kassie nodded. “Yes.”
    “They must be lovely to stroll through. Do you walk there as well?”
    “No.”
    He was surprised by the curtness of her tone. Troubled, he watched her wrap her arms about herself in a gesture of self-protection. He could actually feel her withdraw from him, caught in some turbulent emotion of her own.
    The puppy barked, as if to remind them of the lateness of the hour.
    “I must get back now, Braden,” Kassie told him regretfully. Her tone was bleak, resigned, and Braden could almost swear that he heard a tremor of fear in her voice as she glanced toward home.
    “I agree.” He studied her expression carefully. “Why, I am certain that your father is crazed with worry by now!”
    A veil of sadness settled over her flawless face, and suddenly Braden wanted nothing more than to see it lift.
    “What would it take to make this birthday a special one for you?” he heard himself ask. “What one thing would you wish for?”
    She gazed up at his strong, chiseled features, the thick black hair that the wind had blown off his tanned face, and the warm hazel eyes that glowed down at her.
    There was only one thing she wanted, one unattainable dream to be fulfilled. Her answer was spoken in the softest of whispers, and Braden was still reeling from its impact long after Kassie had disappeared into the night, her new puppy gathered in her arms.
    “I wish that you would wait for me to grow up.”

Chapter 1
    July. 1819
    “T HIS BETROTHAL WAS ARRANGED twenty years ago, and I refuse to let you break it, Braden!” Abigail Devon was furious.
    Braden was bored.
    “Do you hear me?” she shouted. “I have given you ample time to reconsider your ludicrous decision of three years past. It is time to cease this nonsense and make me your wife!” Abigail’s coldly beautiful features contorted with rage as she paced the full length of Sherburgh’s impressive library. Her blue eyes flashed sizzling fire, and she whirled around to face Braden, tossing her pale blond curls over her shoulders and down the back of her lemon-yellow gown.
    A muscle flexed dangerously in Braden’s jaw as he stifled the urge to throttle Abigail and put an end to her outrageous demands. He leaned back against the intricately carved walnut bookcases that lined the pillared walls, struggling for control. “Yes, I hear you, Abigail,” he said through clenched teeth. “In fact, the entire staff can hear you.”
    Two red spots appeared on her pale cheeks. “I don’t give a damn about who hears me, Braden. Or about your servants. Or about—”
    “Grant?” he added helpfully.
    She exhaled sharply. Damn him for remembering. “Or about Grant.”
    He nodded. “Or about any of the other men you have since spread your lovely legs for?” he inquired in a deceptively silky voice.
    Abigail looked stunned.
    “Oh, did you think I knew nothing of them?”
    Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
    Braden pushed himself to his feet. “Let’s end this deception, shall we?” He strode over to stand directly in front of her, every muscle of his powerful physique taut with suppressed anger. “The betrothal was a mockery from the start. Not only do I not love you, I do not even like you. I am aware of every man you have enjoyed. The reason I said nothing is that I never felt anything stronger than disinterest. Your life is your own, Abigail. But you will never be part of mine.” He paused, his eyes flickering over her contemptuously. “The truth is you have absolutely nothing to offer a man but your beautiful, though somewhat soiled, body.” He paused. “ ’Tis a pity you do not spend nearly as much time on your honor as you do on your back.”
    She