Snowbound Seduction by Helen Brooks Page A

Looking up at him, she gave a brilliant smile. ‘This is nice.’ She held out her hands to the crackling flames.
    His mouth quirked attractively. ‘You’re easily pleased.’
    How right he was, but she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Looking around him, she said, ‘The landlady’s waving two menus at us, I think she wants you to collect them. And I’ll have a glass of red wine while you’re there.’
    There was a shadow of puzzlement in the golden eyes—he had clearly picked up that something had changed. He stared at her for a long moment, his smile dying, and then turned and went to the bar. She continued to look at him, her peripheral vision taking in the little stir he’d caused among the female component of the walkers.
    Her mouth tightened. They were stuck here for tonight, that was as clear as the nose on her face, but come morning she would make it plain she had no intention of continuing to the house party. She wanted to go home. And he might be able to charm the birds out of the trees but tonight he was going to find himself with one girl who was well and truly immune to the great Zac Lawson. And he could put that little experience in his pipe and smoke it.

CHAPTER SIX
    Z AC CAME BACK WITH A bottle of wine and two glasses, the menus tucked under one arm. After handing her a menu and pouring them both a glass of wine, he settled back in his chair and said expressionlessly, ‘OK, what have I done?’
    She waited for two or three seconds before raising her eyes from the menu. ‘I’m sorry? I don’t know what you mean.’
    â€˜You’re a different person suddenly.’
    She raised her eyebrows. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. I think we need to order, don’t we? It’s late.’
    â€˜Is it because I’ve messed up the weekend and we’re stuck here?’ he asked levelly. ‘Are you mad at me?’
    Her chin tilted a fraction higher. ‘Of course not. And you haven’t messed up the weekend. Even you can’t control the weather. Now, we really do need to decide on food.’
    He surveyed her silently for enough time for Rachel to squirm inwardly, but she was determined not to show any weakness. ‘Then it must be because I kissed you,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘We were OK before then. Did you assume I was preparing the ground for the full deployment when we go back to the room?’
    Rather than him guess the truth, that would do. She took a sip of wine before she dared look him in the eyes. ‘Weren’t you?’ she challenged.
    There was another long pause. ‘I don’t know,’ he said with a frown. ‘I kissed you because I wanted to, because I long to kiss or touch you every moment I’m with you, and if you want the truth I would very much like to sleep with you. I can’t help that, Rachel. I’m a man. However…’ There was a distinct pause. ‘I’m not an animal. I’ve never once taken a woman to bed who wasn’t one hundred per cent willing, so you have nothing to fear from me.’
    She didn’t doubt he’d never had to cajole or manipulate a woman; there was probably a queue round the block of willing females ready to warm his bed. Coolly, she said, ‘I’ll have the steak and kidney pie with onion mash and seasonal vegetables,’ as she handed the menu back to him. ‘You order at the bar.’
    â€˜I’m aware of that,’ he said, equally coolly.
    She was behaving very badly. As she watched Zac talking to the landlady she suddenly felt very small and very alone in the crowded room. She’d bet she’d get no argument from him tomorrow about taking her home, he probably couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Her mouth drooped at the corners and her gaze turned inwards. Somehow her life hadn’t turned out at all as she’d expected when she and Jennie and Susan had been