LITMIR.BIZ

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Edgar gets a little carried away— I’ll probably have a text waiting from him when I get in. He’s probably running background checks on you as we speak.”

      She expected a laugh but Garrett merely gave her a smile and stood. “Shall we go?”

      When they arrived at her house, the limo waited while Garrett walked with her to her door. He stepped inside, waiting while she switched off the alarm and then pulling her into his embrace to kiss her.

      With her heart racing, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him in return, pouring her feelings into her kiss, wanting to spend the rest of the night with him, wanting to touch and caress and make love, yet knowing she should do little more than what they were doing unless she wanted to risk losing her heart.

      How much time passed, she didn’t know or care. They were breathless, wanting more. Need became a raging fire. When Garrett’s hands began to roam over her, she stopped him and stepped back.

      “We’ll say good-night,” she stated. Her voice was breathless as she gulped for air. “Garrett, tonight has been so much fun,” she said softly. His gray eyes had darkened to slate, desire burning in their depths. “Thanks for a grand evening.”

      “I’ll see you in the morning, Sophia,” he said, giving her a smile that nearly stopped her heart. He turned and left, the lock clicking in place behind him.

      For a moment, she could barely move, resting against the door, trying desperately to catch her breath, wondering if she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

      Garrett swore under his breath. He liked Sophia more than any woman he had known. He wanted to call Will immediately and tell him that he hated deceiving her and it had to end. But he knew that as soon as he told Sophia the Delaneys had sent him, she would break it off.

      He was torn between admitting the truth to her and running the risk of losing her, or continuing the deception until he felt she liked him enough that they could weather the storm that would break when he told her the truth.

      More than once he had mulled over resigning from Delaney Enterprises and devoting himself to building furniture. Sometimes he thought of working with his hands, living in a place near the ocean, creating instead of acquiring. He often wondered if the notion of changing careers was merely a pipe dream, yet Sophia had successfully done just that.

      Only her situation had been different. He had been raised to do this kind of work and he felt he owed the Delaney family his services. Argus Delaney had taken his father out of poverty, given him a job and paid for his education because he said he saw potential in his dad. His father had worked hard and risen fast and Argus had helped him all along the way, opening doors and paying him well. In turn, his father had absolute loyalty to the Delaneys and had raised Garrett to feel the same. If he left Delaney Enterprises, Garrett felt he would be turning his back on all his father had wanted for him, and on Will’s friendship. And he was inheriting a fortune from Will’s dad.

      Even so, the thought was tempting. Especially after being with Sophia.

      For the first time he considered actually going through with telling Will he was resigning. If he resigned, he might have hope of some kind of future with Sophia.

      How tempting. He could tell Sophia everything with a clear conscience.

      Could he do it?

      At his estate he glanced at his watch and picked up his phone to call Will. “Sorry for the early hour.”

      “I hope it’s because you have good news.”

      “I don’t, and I don’t know whether I ever will. She told me more about your dad. She’s incredibly bitter.”

      “Are you making any progress?”

      “We’re flying to Colorado to ski for the weekend.”

      “I call that progress. Just hang in there—sounds as if you two get along fine,” Will said, his voice rising with enthusiasm.

      “We do,” Garrett said in clipped tones. “I don’t know what will happen when I tell her the truth. Will, I hate not being up front with her on this.”

      “You’re doing her a favor, too—don’t forget that.”

      “Dammit, Will, she’s been hurt. She isn’t going to change easily and I can’t keep up this deception,” Garrett said, startled by how deeply concerned he had become over Sophia’s feelings. He cared more for her than he would have dreamed possible when he first took this assignment.

      “You don’t need to feel guilty. You’re doing your job. Do your best is all we all ask—your best is mighty damn fine. We’re counting on you.”

      “I know. I’ll see how it goes today.”

      “Don’t rush. Get her so close she’ll do what you want.”

      Garrett hated the sound of that. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow or Monday,” he said.

      “Have a real good time.”

      He hung up, wondering why he’d even bothered to call Will. He stared at the phone with Will’s words echoing in his thoughts. We’re counting on you. All his adult life they had counted on him. He couldn’t toss that aside.

      Doubting if he would sleep at all, he skipped bed and headed to the shower, thinking of being with her again, of her dark eyes and midnight hair, her laughter, her kiss. A whole weekend. By the time they flew back to Texas, he hoped to be closer to her.

      The big question was: What would happen if he told her the truth? Would he lose her forever?

      Sophia rummaged in her closet for ski clothes and other things she would need. Still marveling at the thought that she had accepted Garrett’s offer, she decided to wait to text Edgar until the morning.

      Anticipation kept a running current of excitement humming through her body. She kept glancing at the clock, anxious to see Garrett again. Was she falling into the same trap her mother had fallen into? Was she doing what she had tried all her adult life to avoid—falling in love?

      A text message broke into her thoughts.

      Are you home? I’ve been worried about you. All OK?

      She fired back an answer.

      I’m home, Edgar. Flying to Colorado tomorrow to ski with Garrett. Back Sunday. Don’t worry about me. Go to bed.

      Minutes after she sent the text, her phone rang. “Edgar, do you know what time it is?”

      “I know you’re still awake,” he answered. “I hope you keep in touch. Sophia, this isn’t like you. How important is Garrett Cantrell to you?”

      “I like the guy and we’re becoming friends. I can do that,” she said, hoping she could hold true to her words. “We’ll be back home early Sunday evening.”

      “I just want to keep my promise to your mother.”

      “Stop worrying. Mom had no idea you would take her request to this extent. I’m grown, Edgar. I can take care of myself.”

      “All right, I’ll buzz off. Let me know when you’re back in town. You can tell me all about your weekend.”

      Smiling, she put away her phone and climbed into bed.

      Just a few short hours later, Garrett was at her door. As he stepped inside, his gaze roamed over her.

      She smiled while her heart jumped. Each time they were together, she thought he was more handsome than the time before. Dressed in a cable-knit navy sweater and jeans, he took her breath away.

      “You look gorgeous,” he said, wrapping one arm around her waist and leaning down to kiss her. She wound her arms around his neck to kiss him in return.

      With an effort she moved away. “This is not a weekend for seduction,” she said with a smile.

      “That’s simply a

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