Convince Me (Holton Series #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tension suddenly returned to the
room.
    “Anna,” Steven asked softly,
needing to know, “why are you so afraid of me?”
    The shock on her face was
unmistakable and Steven wondered briefly if he had read her wrong.  He
didn’t think so.  Looking at her now, she was stiff and closed off. 
She did not answer his question and refused to look at him.  He knew he wasn’t
wrong so he repeated the question pushing her for an answer.
    “I’m not afraid of you,” she said
quickly but without conviction. 
    Steven slowly shook his head. 
“I find that hard to believe when you get so nervous and defensive every time
we are alone.”
    “I don’t care what you believe,”
she said sharply, finally looking him in the eye.  He saw the flash of
anger and the resolve in her face.  “I’m not afraid of you.  That
would be ridiculous.  After all, I hardly know you.”
    “You know that’s not true.  We
may not have known each other long but something happened between us the minute
that we met.  There was a spark between us and it is still there.” 
She was shaking her head but Steven wasn’t ready to let it go.  “You know
it’s true, Anna, why do you insist on denying it?”
    He saw the anger flash again in her
eyes and was afraid he had pushed her too hard but he needn’t have worried. 
Anna was stronger than she looked.  She turned on him immediately. 
    “I’m not denying anything,” she
said distinctly.  “There is nothing between us.  Just because you
have an ego larger than the whole state of Texas, that doesn’t mean I am
attracted to you.  I don’t know where you got that crazy idea.”
    Steven grinned at her anger,
enjoying the fact that she could stand up for herself.  In spite of his
protective nature, Steven had never been attracted to women who could not take
care of themselves.  Andrew’s late wife had been like that.  Carolyn
had been totally dependent on Andrew and Steven had never understood the
attraction.
    Anna was circling the room and when
she turned and saw the grin on his face her anger grew.  “This isn’t
funny!  I don’t know what to do with you.  You won’t take no for an
answer.”
    Steven wiped the grin off his
face.  This was getting serious.  He didn’t want her to think he was
belittling her wishes.  “I would take no for an answer if I thought you
really meant it.”
    “I do mean it,” she said slowly but
there was doubt in her voice.
    “Do you?” he asked, rising from his
chair.  “Do you really want me to walk away from here and never look
back?”
    He grabbed her by the arms, praying
she wouldn’t send him away.  “Tell me, Anna, tell me to go and never come
back and I will.”
    There was confusion on her lovely
face.  She stared at him, her eyes searching his.  Steven waited,
holding his breath.
    “I…You really…I’m just so
confused,” she said as she tried to pull away but Steven held her.  He
reached out a hand and cupped her face.  Anna went perfectly still. 
Leaning forward, he softly kissed her lips.  Just a brief brush across her
month leaving him wanting more but not willing to push her too far.  He
leaned back to look into her eyes and caress her face.
    The desire shining there, matching
his own, was his undoing and he gathered into his arms and pressed his lips to
hers.  She hesitated at first and Steven forced himself to go
slowly.  He held her loosely in arms and nibbled at her mouth tracing her
lips.  Slowly, her lips parted and she began to respond.  Her body
relaxed into his and her arms crept around his neck.  Steven pulled her
closer and deepened the kiss.
    He outlined the inside of her mouth
with his tongue, tasting her and wanting more.  The shy response of her
tongue caused such a strong wave of desire to flow through him that he had to
drag his mouth from hers.  Breathing deeply, he buried his face in her
hair as he willed his body back to normal.  He could fill her own heart
pounding and knew she