Tempting Nora Read Free Page A

roguishly.
    "Oh, really?" Why couldn't she actually make conversation?
    It's his face, she finally realized. His gorgeous face is turning me into a complete idiot.
    "Yeah." He nodded and then glanced at the bar . "So do you want a drink?"
    "Umm…" Well, eating chocolate cake dry was hard. "Milk would be nice."
    Gideon looked at her as if she'd announced she wanted to drink battery acid.
    "Milk?" He raised an eyebrow. "You want milk?"
    "What's wrong with milk?" She raised an eyebrow.
    She was starting to feel insulted now. Nothing was wrong with her drink choice. So what if she didn't drink alcohol? Her mom had been drunk the night she'd become pregnant with her. Yeah, the woman had been in a relationship with her biological father at the time, but the drunkenness was what had made her lose her inhibitions.
    "You don't have to buy me a drink." She crossed her arms. "You asked if I wanted something and that's my choice."
    Finally, the shock disappeared from Gideon's eyes.
    "Forgive me." Gideon bowed his head apologetically. "You just didn't say what I expected."
    "And what did you expect me to say?" She raised an eyebrow.
    "Hmmm. You seem like a wine drinking kind of woman if you ask me." Gideon eyeballed her. "You look free-spirited but intelligent. Bookish. I could see somebody like you drinking red wine by the fireplace with a novel in hand. Am I wrong?"
    He was right. Well, if one replaced the glass of red wine with a cup of steaming hot cocoa or diet soda. Still his ability to judge her was unnerving. Probably I shouldn't let him know that, she thought, wincing. She didn't like the idea of a stranger being able to read her so well.
    "You're wrong," she said. "And I don't drink red wine."
    Because she didn't drink. Period.
    "Interesting." Gideon's grin widened. "Well, you're the first person who's surprised me in many years."
    "Is that a compliment?" She raised an eyebrow.
    "I don't know." Gideon shrugged.
    Geez. This guy was bizarre.
    "Has anybody ever told you that you're a strange person?" She guessed he could get away with having oddities, what with him being gorgeous enough to make girls faint at his feet and all.
    "Is that a compliment?" he asked.
    "I don't know," she said, mimicking him.
    Gideon snorted and shook his head.
    "Well, Nora, if it's milk you want, then it's milk you're going to get," Gideon said. "Don't you dare move a muscle while I'm gone."
    After the man flashed her another dazzling grin, a stampede of tingles rushed through her. For a moment she was so lightheaded she thought she might pass out. Once Gideon glided over to the bar to order her milk, she finally snapped out of her daze enough to check to make sure she wasn't drooling. When she noticed no spittle oozing from her lips, she let out a sigh of relief. So far, so good.
    As she waited for Gideon, s he scratched the back of her neck and cast a glance at Robert. She expected him to be chatting with Meg, but to her surprise, he was staring at her. Just as she was about to look away, Robert started mouthing words. What in heaven's name is he trying to say ? She squinted as if that could help her see. Finally, after many embarrassing hand motions on her part, she understood. Robert was mouthing the words, "Get his phone number!" She waved her arms wildly and shook her head. Her friend just smirked, looking annoyingly smug.
    "That idiot," she muttered.
    "Idiot?" Gideon sounded amused.
    She yelped in surprise. Gideon had been standing beside her and she hadn't even noticed. Boy, he was stealthy. 
    "How long have you been standing there?" she said.
    "Long enough to see you waving your arms around." Grinning, he took his place at the table with a glass of milk and a shot of golden alcohol. "If we somehow end up playing a game of charades, remind me to never be your partner. You're terrible."
    "Hey… " Her cheeks burned.
    "What on earth is this supposed to mean?" Gideon waved his arm wildly to one side. "It was ridiculous."
    " Nothing," she sputtered,