Playing for Keeps: Harford Scarlet Series Read Free

distinctive voice, Sarah lifted her head, caught like a deer in headlights, mouth open and pink tongue poking out. His eyes were like lasers on her, boring through her skin, heating her blood to fizzing.
    ‘I can do that, if you like?’ Tom nodded at her damp wrist.
    She licked her lips, tried to wet her suddenly dry mouth. Heat flushed in her cheeks. A deep breath intending to calm her instead filled her lungs with his woodsy scent. Her knees weakened, he was just so …
    ‘Enjoy the game earlier?’ Tom smiled at her as if he knew the sensations that were buzzing around her body.
    Sarah nodded dumbly and took a huge gulp of her wine, which gave her the time to think of something to say. ‘It was a good win.’ Her mind completely blank, she tried desperately to recall anything about the game. Nope, she couldn’t even remember the final score. ‘Will you be playing soon?’ she blurted out.
    ‘Next week, I think.’
    He stood over her; she felt surrounded by him. She licked her dry lips again.
    His eyes burned into her. ‘Don’t –’
    ‘Don’t what?’
    ‘Don’t you play any more?’ asked Tom.
    ‘I travel a fair bit so I haven’t got the time.’
    ‘What do you do?’
    Finally, a safe topic. Sarah relaxed slightly. ‘I’m a consultant: I help revive and restructure failing hotels. Conference centre complexes which aren’t generating enough profit.’
    ‘Interesting work?’
    ‘It can be. So, you’ve been playing rugby up north. What made you move down here?’
    ‘I have several businesses down here and it saves me a lot of travelling.’
    ‘What do they do, your businesses?’ The normality of the conversation had settled her nerves, even though her body was still on full alert. She took another swig of wine, feeling the warmth down her throat, the buzz of the alcohol continuing to kick in.
    ‘This and that. Some computer software and internet businesses. A bit of property development, conversion of older properties into hotels – I’m surprised we haven’t crossed paths before now.’
    ‘I usually work with established hotel chains; that’s how I started before I went independent.’
    He shifted with his back to the rest of the room. The way Tom was corralling her into a corner reminded her of their university days. She should stop backing away; it would only make it more difficult to get away from him. She purposely held her ground as he moved out of the way of a passer-by and he bumped into her.
    He smelled so good! Under the woodsy aftershave was a hint of fresh sweat and something that was uniquely Tom. Memories began rushing back to her from ten years earlier: the way his hands felt on her. Her abdominal muscles tightened, and aching anticipation swelled the pit of her stomach – and lower down. She moved restlessly from one foot to the other, unwittingly rubbing her thighs together.
    He was saying something but she could only watch his lips as a hand touched her side. The heat radiated from his palm and she barely restrained a gasp as sensation shot between her legs.
    ‘Yo, Tom! Drink?’
    Alex’s call from the bar distracted Tom and the spell snapped. Tom’s hand left her side as he turned and nodded, holding up his own bottle for Alex to see.
    Sarah blinked, shaking off the remnants of the incapacitating daze. She caught sight of Clare by the door, took her chance and managed to slip away while Tom’s attention was diverted. Downing the last vestiges of her drink, she dumped the glass and strode quickly to the exit, grabbing their coats and Clare on the way.
    ‘So, if I asked …’ Tom found himself talking to empty air, the only trace of Sarah a hint of her perfume. He took a deep breath and felt his body tighten with excitement. Frustration warred with anticipation in his belly, anticipation won. He smiled smugly. ‘You can run, but you can’t hide,’ he murmured to himself as he glimpsed her disappearing out of the doors.
    ‘What are you looking so damn pleased