Tempting Nora Read Free

half listening. Her eyes were on the slice of cake.
    "Uh-huh," she said.
    She brought her cake to an abandoned table in the corner. After she took a seat, she ate a bite of the dessert. The icing was thick and rich, the chocolate mousse light and fluffy. Oh. My. Gosh . She squeezed her eyes shut, certain she was going to levitate above the table.
    "Mmmm." She squirmed in her seat, sucking every last available bit of chocolate from the fork.
    "That sure looks good," a deep, sexy voice said.
    Stiffening, she looked straight into a pair of caramel colored eyes. Oh no, it was the sexy Adonis, aka Mr. Trouble. The bite of cake went down the wrong tube and she coughed. As her eyes watered in pain, the man sat in the chair across from hers. When her vision finally cleared, she was dazed. How could any man have legs that long or muscles so toned?
    But then the allure faded. She was much more concerned about all of the glares she was receiving from the girls who'd been sitting with the caramel-eyed man before. Even the gorgeous blonde was watching her with narrowed eyes. She looked down at her slice of cake and groaned. Why did this have to happen? The guy was gorgeous, yeah, but that was a problem. Gorgeous people made her nervous. How could she enjoy eating this delicacy when she could hardly hold her fork because her hand trembled so much?
    Frustrated, she tried hard not to look at the man as she speared a bite of frosting and licked it. To her surprise, the guy watched her eat. His hot, intense gaze made her instantly uncomfortable. She put down her fork, wishing he'd look somewhere else. After all, it wasn't fair that someone could smolder like that. It was a wonder that the fudge icing on her piece of cake didn't melt from being so close to him.
    " Can I have a bite?" the guy asked.
    He wanted a b ite of her cake? Her delicious, better-than-falling-in-love cake? She was pretty great at sharing most things, but never chocolate cake.
    "Heck no." She drew her dessert closer to her, holding her fork like a sword. If he tried to steal the plate, she'd stab him…maybe.
    The man's caramel eyes darkened.
    Then it occurred to her—he wasn't after her cake. He was trying to hit on her. No way, she thought, stealing a glance at the far prettier women who'd been at his side at the bar. She wasn't bad looking, but she could stand to lose ten pounds and had bad skin. Compared to the model-like beauties who were throwing themselves at this guy's feet, she couldn't compare. I must be wrong. He can't be trying to make a move on me. Frowning, she scrutinized the gorgeous guy, wondering what he could possibly want from her.
    "You don't like to share ." The man's smile returned.
    "Oh, I don't mind sharing most things." She was impressed she managed to keep her voice from trembling . "Just not cake. Or anything else with chocolate."
    "You like chocolate?" The guy cocked his head.
    "Doesn't everyone?" She frowned.
    "I don't mind it, but I find other indulgences to be more…pleasurable." He licked his lips.
    "Um, okay." Good going, Captain Witty!
    "By the way, I'm Gideon Greyson." He held out his hand.
    "I'm Nora Williams." She shook his hand, painfully aware of how sweaty her palm was.
    "Nora." Gideon flashed a perfect smile that left her breathless. "That's a lovely name. Why did your parents choose it?"
    Thinking about her parents was like a kick to the chest. She could still remember the day her mom had dragged her kicking and screaming into an orphanage. From that moment on, she'd been passed from foster home to foster home like an unwanted hand-me-down. It was the last thing she wanted to think about.
    "I don't know." She shrugged.
    "I see." Gideon leaned closer, breathing his sweet breath all over her. 
    Fire burned in her belly . She fanned herself with her hand as she glanced nervously around the bar.
    "Geez, is it hot in here?" It felt like somebody had turned up the heater.
    "I think the temperature is just right." He grinned