Unforgettable: A Loveswept Classic Romance Read Free Page B

her gaze on James.
    “Hello,” she said brightly as she set the palm back into the pot as casualty as possible. First his horse picked her dress to snort all over, and now this, she thought. She’d be lucky if she didn’t fall into the champagne fountain tonight.
    She turned around and matters were made worse by the sight of him in evening wear. His tuxedo fit like the proverbial glove, and she tried desperately not to stare. She was all too aware that she was virtually alone with James … and the palm tree. She couldn’t think of a better place to be—except prison, maybe.
    “Hello,” he said. “I’m glad I found you—”
    It took James several seconds to realize his greeting had stopped abruptly when she turned around. It took him several more to realize he was staring at her. Her ankle-length gown in shimmering turquoise crepe clung to her every curve. The sleeves and torso glittered with blue and silver bangles, and the skirt glimmered with woven silver threads. Any jewelry, other than earrings, would have been gaudy. But it was the keyhole opening from throat to below her breasts that captured his attention. Her cleavage was completely exposed. The bodice was incredibly daring, and he wondered at the engineering feat that kept it in place. One slip and more than cleavage would see the light of day. He tried to shift his gaze from the sight of her creamy flesh, but it was impossible. The temptation to find out if her skin was as silken as it looked was nearly overwhelming.
    “I think I forgive you for throwing up on me when I was four,” he finally said, grinning at her.
    “Very funny.” Her cheeks looked flushed. “It’s nice to see you too, James.”
    “Not as nice as it is to … see you.” His grin widened. “That’s a beautiful dress. But don’t you feel a little chilly?”
    “Trust me, this is tame next to something Cher would wear,” she replied, fixing him with a fairimitation of her grandmother’s stare. “Anyway, I’ve seen more daring ones here tonight.”
    That might be, he conceded, but none affected him as hers did. She was not like those women who had fluttered around him after the polo match that afternoon. Not at all. He didn’t like the thought that other men had seen her in that gown. But he had no rights to her. He’d given up that privilege on a long-ago summer night.…
    He reminded himself that he hadn’t had a chance to speak to her earlier about his business proposition, and that was the only right he could have to her. After the phone call he’d received this morning, he knew he had an offer she couldn’t refuse—and one he couldn’t imagine sharing with anyone but her. Only she would understand and appreciate the momentous thing he had done.
    Forcing himself to ignore the distractions she presented, he asked, “Can I ask why you’re hiding behind the palm?”
    “Waiting for Grandmother,” she said.
    “I see. Then I’ll wait with you. We have to talk, Annie. Privately—”
    “Anne,” she corrected him firmly. “It’s just Anne now.”
    He smiled. “You have never been ‘just Anne.’ ”
    Before she could protest, he joined her at the wall, leaning his shoulder against the flocked paper and effectively trapping her between him and the palm. He was immediately aware of the small space separating them. His body and mind urged him closer, to take her in his arms and inhale the scent of light perfume and woman, feel her curves under his hands.
    He set his jaw to keep himself in control. He had a business arrangement for her, that was all.He looked around the ballroom and knew they could be interrupted at any moment. He would have to get her alone. He ignored the leap of his senses at the thought, and said, “I do have to talk to you privately, but this isn’t nearly private enough. There are some rooms along the back hallway—”
    “I really hate to disappoint you, James, but I promised Grandmother I would wait for her. She’d be upset if I