All A Heart Needs B&N by Barbara Freethy Page B

you the lounge."
    He led her through a door at the far side of the studio. The lounge was a large room with comfortable brown leather couches, a warm, brightly colored throw rugs, and a small kitchen. Along one wall was a display of guitars signed by famous musicians. She picked one up and read the inscription.
    "John Mayer?" she asked in wonder.
    Sean nodded. "We opened for him a few years back. When he heard about the studio, he sent over the guitar."
    "That's incredible. You have some good connections."
    "Some."
    "How have you kept this a secret?"
    He shrugged. "It hasn't been that difficult. I haven't been around the family much the last year. I would like to keep this a secret awhile longer, so if you don't mind keeping it to yourself, I'd appreciate it."
    "Why don't you want anyone to know?"
    "Because my family has a lot opinions, and they don't hesitate to share them. Hunter and I have a plan, and I don't need anyone else's input. We're going to host a grand opening next month and I'll announce it then."
    "You're going to blow everyone away."
    "It's just a music studio, Jess, I'm not curing cancer or anything."
    "Don't do that. Don't put it down," she said with a forceful shake of her head. "Music is part of our culture and should be protected and nurtured. Every generation defines itself by the songs of their youth. It's the background beat to their lives. It's not unimportant. With every lyric, every melody, you create a legacy. Don't pretend that's not important."
    Sean stared at her, his eyes dark with emotion. "Well, I don't know what to say."
    "You can say I'm right."
    "You are right. You're also pretty wonderful. So wonderful I could kiss you right now."
    Her stomach flipped over. "Who's stopping you?"
    "Not you?" he questioned,
    "Not me," she said, as he moved towards her. Her impassioned speech had set her pulse pounding, and at this moment she couldn't think of one good reason why she shouldn't kiss him.
    He put his hands on her hips, his blue eyes compelling her to look at him. "Are you more interested in me now because you think I might have a bank account and a savings plan and a nine-to-five job in my future?"
    She shook her head, knowing there was an edge of seriousness behind the light question. "No, I'm interested, because you're really, really sexy. And I get butterflies in my stomach when you look at me the way you're looking at me. I know we're not supposed to do this anymore, but maybe just one more—"
    He cut off her sentence with his mouth. Desire shot down her spine at the searing heat of his lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, drinking in the pleasure of his taste, his touch. Sean overwhelmed her senses and lit up her desire. He made her aware of every nerve ending, every sensual needy point of desire. When she was with him, she felt very feminine, eager to take his hard edges into her soft curves.
    She wanted to really know him, to get past the teasing and the playful to the deep and the passionate. Sean had a soulful side that came out when he sang and also when he kissed. He was much more complex than she'd realized at first. There were layers and layers, and she wanted to reveal every single one.
    But if she could strip Sean's layers away, then he could also strip hers. And where would that leave her? With the guard walls down, he could hurt her. She didn't want any more pain.
    But what if there wasn't pain? What if the passion never ended?
    Sean's mouth slid from her lips and he kissed his way down the side of her neck. When his fingers crept up under her top, teasing her abdomen, she wanted his hands all over her. This was moving way beyond a simple kiss. She had to stop it. And she would—in a second—or two. Maybe three. But it was Sean who finally broke away.
    "You're making me crazy, Jess." His blue eyes glittered like diamonds in a dark sky.
    "Likewise," she said. "I feel like you've cast a spell over me."
    "I think you're the witch."
    "We're being