A Guilty Affair Read Online Free PDF Page A

of his voice around the corner and down the hall to the second bedroom, which had been converted into a home office. The room was small and functional, dominated by a sturdy bookcase, a pair of black metal filing cabinets, and a wide metal desk—the kind of furniture that could be purchased at government auctions.
    Noah stood at the narrow window talking on the phone, one hand thrust carelessly into the pocket of dark jeans that clung to the corded muscles of his thighs and hugged a rear end you could bounce quarters off. Riley’s mouth went dry as cotton.
    At that moment, Noah turned and reached across the cluttered desk for a notepad. With the cordless phone pressed between his ear and shoulder blade, he leaned down to scribble instructions dictated to him by the person on the other end.
    Without warning, Riley saw herself nestled between the desk and his hard, muscular body. She imagined his big hands at her waist, her head flung back against his chest as he kissed her throat and—
    Shocked by the wicked turn of her thoughts, she coughed then choked. Noah lifted his head and looked over at her questioningly. You okay? he mouthed.
    Her face burned, but not from the temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. Nodding jerkily, she backed out of the room and hurried to the kitchen, where she poured herself a tall glass of water.
    Noah appeared a few moments later, frowning. “Are you all right?”
    She waved off his concern, gulping down the water as if she’d just run the Boston Marathon. “I’m fine,” she rasped when she’d finished her drink. “I was just thirsty. Must have been a little dehydrated.”
    He walked over, took the empty glass from her hand and refilled it, then passed it back to her.
    â€œThanks,” she murmured gratefully. “I apologize for interrupting your phone call.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it.” Folding his arms across his broad chest, he leaned a hip against the center island. “Have a good nap?”
    â€œYes,” she said, feeling suddenly shy. “Why’d you let me sleep so long?”
    He shrugged. “You were tired. I figured you could use the rest, after driving all the way from Washington, D.C. Without stopping somewhere to get a good night’s sleep,” he added, giving her a censorious look.
    Her eyes widened. “H-how do you know that?”
    â€œYour grandmother called while you were sleeping. She was worried, wanted to make sure you hadn’t driven your car off the road in your exhaustion. When you didn’t answer your cell phone, she called the house.”
    â€œOh.” Embarrassed, Riley could only stare down into her glass.
    â€œWhy’d you do a stupid thing like that, Riley?” Noah asked in a tone she imagined he’d use to interrogate suspects. “Drive almost twenty-four hours with no rest?”
    â€œI was on a mission. I wanted to get here as soon as possible.” She lifted her head and looked at him. “I’m sorry for holding you hostage at home half the day. I hope I didn’t keep you from anything important.”
    â€œJust the office. But I was able to get some things done here, so it’s no problem.” He turned his head and glanced out the French doors. She smiled at the sight of Eskimo bounding back and forth across the lawn, chasing down a rubber ball.
    â€œHe must think I’m so lame,” Riley said ruefully. “One minute we were playing together and eating pound cake, the next minute I was out like a light.”
    Noah arched a brow. “You fed my dog cake?”
    â€œJust a little,” she admitted sheepishly, holding her thumb and index finger two inches apart. When Noah scowled, she chuckled. “Oh, come on. Don’t get mad. Everyone should experience Grandma’s lemon pound cake at least once in their lives. Besides, I couldn’t resist, not when he looked up at me with those big brown