Seducing the Heiress Read Free Page A

doing.”
    â€œWhatever,” she said, giving him a dismissive wave. “You got what you wanted. Just stay out of my business from now on. We certainly don’t need a repeat of Vegas.”
    * * *
    Vegas. Ah, Vegas. How could he forget?
    Farrah was winding through the casino floor of the MGM Grand Hotel, trying to block all the noise—bells, cheers of joy and tears of disappointment—preparing to enter the unseasonably warm April weather, when she saw Robert Gold heading her way. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œMeeks sent me to help you.”
    â€œTo settle a contract dispute? How exactly do you plan to help me do that?”
    He shrugged. “In any way you need.”
    â€œGo home, Robert,” Farrah shot back as she moved around him and continued toward the exit.
    Robert followed her outside, pulling his aviator sunglasses down from his head and over his eyes. “Look, I’m here to stay, so you might as well put me to work.”
    Farrah reached into her bag and pulled out a document and a certified check. “It’s already done,” she said, handing him the document and placing a pair of Chanel sunglasses over those sexy siren eyes.
    Robert put his right arm over Farrah’s shoulders and smiled. “Well, in that case, it’s the weekend, so let’s play.” For two people who had been dancing around the edges of friendship and passion since she’d joined the family business, play, which included a lot of tequila, was the operative word. Marriage happened to be the unexpected endgame.
    â€œFor the millionth time, I didn’t crash your Vegas trip,” Robert insisted. “Meeks sent me to help.”
    â€œHelp I didn’t need,” she shot back, rubbing her temple. “Look, it’s just...”
    â€œJust what? Finish your thought,” he demanded.
    Farrah moved to the corner of the room and Robert enjoyed the wonderful view as he followed on her heels. She turned and faced him. “You shouldn’t be flirting in front of me. At least not until after our divorce is final. You should have more respect for me and our marriage, no matter how short-lived it may be. Is that too much to ask?”
    â€œRespect for a marriage you claimed was a mistake,” he replied. “One you can’t get out of fast enough—is that the marriage we’re talking about? The one you want me to respect ?” Robert said through his teeth with his fist clenched at his side as he fought for control. Why couldn’t she see what they had—could still have—was special? Why did it have to end up like a cliché?
    They stared at each other in silence. Robert had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Farrah. Not even the betrayal by his college sweetheart that had made him swear off serious relationships could compare to what he felt for Farrah. He adored everything about her. From the way she challenged and pushed him to her fierce and protective love for her family. Standing this close, he could smell the scent of her favorite vanilla shampoo and it, along with the sexy dress that draped her body like a second skin, sent his body on high alert.
    Farrah lowered her head and shook it slowly. “We had a little too much to drink in Vegas .” She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “We got married on a dare. At some cheesy little spot called the Tunnel of Love Chapel,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Who does that?”
    Robert clamped down on his factual answer that it happened more times than people liked to give credit.
    â€œYou bet it was a mistake,” she continued. “Hell, we both agreed it was a mistake.”
    Robert sighed and nodded. He had agreed that marrying the way they had—at a drive-through window—was a mistake, but he was convinced that the marriage itself wasn’t one at all. An awareness he’d come to after realizing his friendly feelings for