More Than a Mistress Read Free Page A

slip to strip it off when her doorbell rang. She glanced at her brass alarm clock and frowned. Twelve-thirty. Who in the world could it be at this hour?
    Snatching the ankle-length kimono from the hook on the back of her closet door, she wrapped it around herself, marched to her front door and looked through the peephole.
    Daniel Pendleton. Her heart gave a tiny, involuntary flutter.
    She opened the door, saying the first thing that came to mind. “Is something wrong with Carly?”
    â€œNo.” Daniel looked into Sara’s wary eyes and immediately knew he’d have to temper the Romeo bit. She looked small and vulnerable and mussed in a thoroughly inviting way, but she also looked distrustful. He shoved the rosebud into his pocket and stepped through the doorway. “Mind if I come in?”
    â€œWell—”
    â€œI wanted to make sure you got home okay.” He paused, sweeping the living room with a curious glance. His first impressions were of femininity, comfort and privacy. Puffy curtains and pastel miniblinds covered the windows. On the mantel he noticed a lot of candles and a stuffed teddy bear wearing a floppy hat and lace dress. One end table held a bestselling novel, a few women’s magazines and a bottle of nail polish. An image flashed through his mind of Sara wearing the red silk slip as she painted her nails and blew them dry. He could almost feel the warmth of her breath, and just the thought of it made him tug at his starched collar.
    Her coat and purse had been thrown carelessly on the floral sofa, which, in Daniel’s opinion, held too many little pillows and was too small for sleeping. But he could imagine ditching those little pillows, easing Sara into his lap and kissing her until they were both ready for bed.
    He’d trade the lower forty for a peek at her bedroom.
    â€œI’m fine,” Sara said.
    His gaze automatically went to her. “And we never finished our conversation.”
    Sara looked at him blankly.
    Daniel’s mouth lifted in a slow grin. “Dinner.”
    Uneasy, Sara picked up her coat and hung it in the closet, feeling Daniel’s gaze track her every movement. He seemed to take up an enormous amount of space in her house. “I think it would be best if we didn’t.”
    â€œWhy?”
    She wished he hadn’t asked that. “Because you’re Carly’s brother and she’s my boss.”
    Propping himself against the sofa, he crossed his arms over his chest. “So?”
    â€œSo it could get awkward.” She tried, surreptitiously, to kick her shoes under an end table. When Daniel’s gaze slid to her feet and seemed to settle on her red toenails, Sara felt terribly self-conscious. It was one of her little eccentricities. She painted her toenails bright, flashy colors while she kept her fingernails trimmed and painted them neutral colors. She cleared her throat, wishing for steel-toed boots.
    He stood and walked closer to her, setting off all her warning bells and whistles.
    â€œDoes that mean you don’t want to?” he asked.
    Sara swallowed. “I—” She searched for an honest but polite response and came up empty.
    His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as if he truly wanted to understand. “You don’t like the way I look?”
    She shook her head, wishing desperately that she wasn’t having this conversation. “No. That’s not—”
    His gaze swept her from head to toe. “You’re not attracted to me?”
    She felt her cheeks heat. “I didn’t say that.”
    â€œYou’re still missing your husband?” His voice held sympathy, but no pity.
    He gave her the perfect excuse, and Sara almost took the easy way out. “I miss him.” She felt dishonest letting the statement sit between them. Sighing, she lifted her hand and briefly touched his arm. “But that’s not why I don’t go out.”
    Daniel’s hand slid out and