Midnight Lover Read Free Page B

think of none better."
    "I have just lost my father. Surely you cannot expect me to talk of such matters at a time like this."
    "Exactly why you need someone to care for you."
    "I'm a grown woman, Thomas. I can care for myself." Indeed it seemed she had been caring for herself since she was three years old and her m other died.
    "A woman needs a man's protection."
    "A woman needs a partner," she said, "not a protector." Protectors had the strange habit of disappearing when you most needed their protection.
    "I could be everything to you, Caro." He climbed up another step and drew her into his arms. "I could be your partner." He angled his head down until his mouth was inches from hers. "And your lover."
    Caroline could have moved away. Over the years she'd had much practice at rebuffing the advances of young men inflamed by her beauty. She'd learned the effectiveness of a swoon or a well-placed slap. Why she'd never met a man she couldn't control when his ardor threatened to overcome his reason.
    Thomas was a gentleman right down to his buffed and gleaming fingernails. Had she exhibited the slightest maidenly horror at his boldness, he would have pulled back at once and apologized effusively for his presumptuous behavior as he had so many times before.
    But this time was different. This time she wanted to forget her sorrow; she wanted him to sweep her into his arms and make her feel that she wasn't in this life alone. Then maybe, just maybe, this one pipedream of Aaron's had a chance of coming true.
    She closed her eyes and waited for the magic.
    His touch was tentative, as if he awaited her permission. She forced herself to relax in his arms. Make me love you, she thought as his hand gingerly spanned her waist. Make me throw caution to the four winds and run off with you. There must be some secret, wonderful magic that occurred between a man and a woman that made normal people behave in such amazingly abnormal ways.
    But Thomas's kisses were as undemanding, as respectful as a minister's handshake and about as exciting as a Sunday sermon. Indeed, some of Reverend Taylor's fire-and-brimstone sermons had inspired more passion in her than Thomas's attentions.
    Caroline opened one eye and looked at him. The gently handsome face of Thomas Wentworth Addison II had been transformed by desire. His brows were drawn together in a scowl. Beads of perspiration edged out of the neatly trimmed sideburns framing his face. A low moan sounded from deep in his throat and made the knot on his navy silk tie quiver.
    He looked to be in some kind of celestial agony and Caroline had to pinch herself hard on the wrist to keep from laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
    So much for the experiment. Whatever it was that brought men and women together despite the most prodigious odds remained a secret. Caroline was as far from physical ecstasy as she was from turning into the sweet and yielding woman who would be the perfect Mrs. Addison II. Putting her palm against his chest, she pushed him away.
    "No more, Thomas," she said. "This isn't right."
    His kisses trailed down the right side of her throat and fiddled around the high lace collar of her black mourning dress. "Of course it's right, Caro. I love you. I want to marry you."
    "No!" God forgive her, but she hadn't meant for the words to burst out with such force. She took a deep breath, trying to summon up a semblance of coquetry to salve his ego. "What I mean is, I'm not ready to marry yet, Thomas. It's too soon after..." She let her voice trail off.
    "My sweet love," he said, catching her hands and bringing them to his lips. "I know what troubles you. Do you think I care if Aaron left a bushel of unpaid bills behind? I'll pay off every one of them tomorrow if that will bring a smile to your beautiful face."
    Anger twisted through her chest and burned its way outward. "Have I mentioned Aaron's debts, Thomas?"
    "I only assumed—"
    "You assumed that embarrassment over my financial circumstances