Someone Irresistible Read Free

and taking a deep breath.
    “Yes, this is much better,” she said.
    “Much.”
    What a stupid reply. Why in God’s name was he acting so oafish with her? He was older than she by at least seven years, more experienced, a man. She was lovely, though, and Nathan didn’t often come across lovely women who clung to his arm, regardless of how well he knew them.
    She started to lead him down the path toward the southeast side of the building and he strode beside her at a steady pace.
    “Mr. Marley speaks well of your accomplishments in the field,” she said.
    Nathan inhaled deeply, forcing himself to relax. “Does he? We’re good friends.”
    “Ah, but you’re being modest, Professor Price,” she countered, squeezing his arm playfully. “Professor Owen wouldn’t be donating money to someone he could not trust to succeed.”
    Nathan knew this was true, and was actually a little surprised that she’d considered it. “He trusts my work.”
    “Mmmm.”
    Mimi had to step closer to him to allow a round woman in heavy hoops to pass on the path, but she didn’t move back after the woman strolled by. She held to his arm discreetly, knowing without doubt that her closeness might send signals to others that they were more than acquaintances. Nathan wondered about that but didn’t question it. The hair on top of her head was very nearly touching his chin and he liked the way she smelled—clean, spicy, and feminine.
    “It’s been months since you’ve been to visit my father,” she carried on as if they were discussing something quite ordinary.
    “Until just recently, I’ve been digging at the Oxfordshire quarry, Miss Marsh.”
    She stopped abruptly and turned toward him, never letting go of his arm.
    Her smile grew cunning. “You’ve known me for several years, Nathan. I don’t think it would be at all indecent for you to call me by my given name, especially when we are alone.”
    Why are we alone ? he suddenly wanted to ask, but didn’t. Of course their actions weren’t improper, and certainly wouldn’t cause speculation among family and friends. But it did seem like an
    unexpected turn of events to find himself isolated, arm in arm, in the cooling dusk, with Mimi Marsh.
    She turned again at his continued silence and began a steady stroll, seemingly unruffled by his lack of comment to her statement.
    “You don’t care for Carter Sinclair, do you?”
    Her probing question made him pause. “Why do you ask?”
    She lifted a smooth, bare shoulder in a light shrug. “He’s not altogether fond of you, and I wondered if the feeling was mutual. I’m also curious as to why there is such animosity between you.”
    Nathan drew another long breath. “We’ve been rivals for a long time, Mimi.”
    She didn’t look at him when he said her name, as if she expected that he would.
    “But he’s an anatomist, not a paleontologist. Your work can’t be that similar.”
    “It crosses over frequently, but in general, no, it’s not,” he confirmed with a little irritation in his voice. “But our ideas on science differ greatly. He’s a backward thinker, completely disregarding new theories because he’s arrogant.”
    “He’s asked my father for my hand,” she stated quietly, somewhat wistfully, staring away from him and across the green landscape of Hyde Park.
    With those words something he couldn’t define stirred deep within him. Gradually she stopped walking and turned to him, starkly gazing into his eyes, hers darkened to black in the growing nightfall.
    “Have you accepted?” he heard himself ask huskily, curious as to why this topic was even spoken between them. He’d known both her and her father as acquaintances for years, but this was really a private matter and none of his concern.
    “Not yet,” she admitted, watching him closely.
    Nathan was confused, more by her candor than by her desire to discuss a marriage with Carter Sinclair. The match would be a perfect one socially and financially, as