Melting the Millionaire's Heart Read Free Page B

lifted. “You watch a lot of Lifetime ?”
    “My mom did, when I was growing up. She’d cry her eyes out over those stalker-of-the-week movies, or sigh over the love stories. Dad and I liked to give her a hard time.”
    Her cold-reddened lips curved. “I have a confession to make. I love those movies.”
    “In that case, let me.” He put one hand behind her thighs and another under her back and lifted.
    The action surprised a squeak out of her. “I was just kidding. I didn’t mean…you don’t have to—you don’t—” When he ignored her and set off for the house, she sighed. “Thank you.” She peered over his shoulder. “You left the car door open, though.”
    “It’s all right. I have to come back to get my luggage anyway.”
    “Luggage?”
    “I’m coming from the airport. Just got back from California.”
    “Oh.” She looked like she wanted to ask him more, but she didn’t, and he didn’t volunteer any information. Being someone else for a while had its appeal. When he talked to an attractive woman his age, he usually got the feeling she was tallying up his net worth all the while. Kayla Johnston saw him as a regular guy, something he hadn’t been in a long, long time. Besides, spending the night with a pretty girl beat going back to his house to hang out with people who all wanted his money. Sure, he’d invited them, but not because it sounded like his idea of a great time. He had to investigate the people he gave money to, but that didn’t mean he liked all the sucking up and schmoozing that went with it. And if he could pick her brain a bit, find out what really went on at Horizons, so much the better.
    .
    Obviously, karma had decided it owed her one. After it made her late for an important event, wrecked her car, and left her stranded in a blizzard, Fate, or the Universe, or God if you were so inclined, had decided to reward her with a dashing rescue from Prince Charming. As close to Prince Charming as she would get in southern Indiana, at any rate.
    After carrying her against his broad chest through the snow to save her poor feet from freezing—and hadn’t that been delightful—he’d put her down on the porch, let her in, and turned up the thermostat to warm up the house. He told her to make herself at home and returned to the car for his luggage. She glanced around, curious.
    The foyer opened onto a sitting room on one side and a formal parlor on the other. Both rooms were decorated with comfy-looking furniture in dark, subdued floral patterns. Ornate rugs warmed the gleaming wooden floors, and each room boasted a huge fireplace, one of red brick, and one of wood and plaster. At the far end of the foyer, a staircase rose to the second floor. A stately grandfather clock sat like a sentinel near the newel post.
    After she’d taken off her winter things and hung them on an antique wooden coat rack next to the door, she bent to the torturous task of peeling off her damp leather boots. She’d only worn the stupid things to catch Steve’s eye.
    Instead, she’d caught RJ’s eye. She thought so, anyway. She’d never been good at reading social signals, especially from men, but unless she was very mistaken, he had something of a thing for her legs. He’d even been flirting with her a bit, she suspected. Fine by her.
    Carolyn had been telling her for weeks to start dating again, to “get back on that horse,” but she had shrugged off her friend’s advice, uninterested. Now, she’d finally found a worthy horse. She didn’t do flings, but they’d probably be stuck here together for a while. Maybe she could get to know him a little bit tonight, find out whether he had a girlfriend, and see where things went from there.
    Her left boot came off suddenly and she nearly toppled over. She took more care with the other one and eased it off.
    She sighed her relief as she stretched and wiggled her sore toes. Trouble was, her tights were still damp and miserably uncomfortable. She looked at the