Hearts Out of Time Read Online Free PDF Page A

gasped when they entered the lobby. Who stayed in this unbelievable hotel and how much did a room cost?
    “Miss Richardson?” Garrett said.
    “Yeah.”
    She wrenched her gaze away from the beautiful sight. Struck with the overwhelming need to visit this fabulous hotel, she winced as pins and needles danced along her calves.
    “We ought to—” Garrett said.
    “We don’t ‘ought’ anything because I want to see this place,” she said. “Come on, give me the grand tour.”
    “Dallying may not be—” Garrett said.
    “Oh, don’t be such a drag.” She motioned toward the building.
    Weedon chuckled behind her. Probably spurred or pissed by his friend’s reaction, Garrett looked down at her, reminding her of her not-yet-in-fashion and splattered-in-mud garments. Surely she’d attract the wrong sort of attention.
    “Sorry,” she mumbled, “I forgot about my clothes.”
    With a super-irritating and confident air, Garrett offered his arm. “No one shall bother you in my company.”
    Really? Did his ‘Lordy’ attitude shield him from respecting rules in such a sumptuous establishment? A shiver slid up her spine when she rolled her fingers around Garrett’s sleeve. His forearm muscle contracted instantly and his gaze darkened, but not in anger.
    They stared at each other for an endless second, the noise and chattering around her being replaced by the loud hammering of her heart. Moistness touched her panties and she held her breath as his square jaw twitched.
    Did Garrett feel it too? Was he fighting the same desire piercing her belly and drying her mouth? Pulse beating against her temples, she licked her lips right before he broke eye contact and cleared his throat.
    “Shall we?” he asked.
    “Absolutely,” she replied.
    He then nodded at Weedon before leading her toward a wide opening. On the other side, she barely suppressed a boisterous “Wow” as she discovered what could only be called a carriage entrance.
    “This is the Grand Court,” Garrett said.
    Sunrays streamed through the sky-lit open center of the building, shards of brightness enhancing the beauty of the large patio overlooked by seven stories of white-columned balconies. Goose flesh rising over her arms, she marveled at the magnificence of this symbol of world-class elegance.
    True to his word, Garrett showed her the white-and-gold American Dining Room located right off the main lobby, followed by the spacious ‘Grille Rooms,’ one for ‘Ladies’ and another for ‘Gentlemen.’
    Even if she hadn’t studied art and history, the place was fantastic enough to fill anyone with wonder.
    They moved on to the Maple Hall available for receptions, the Tapestry Room accommodating private dinners, the three ‘Louis Quinze’-style ‘Parlors,’ and the Colonial-style Billiards Room providing a place for gentlemen guests to relax, as did the magnificently appointed bar.
    Like a fairytale princess escorted by her dark prince, she climbed the impressive staircase leading to the second story. She darted her gaze around, wanting to see everything, taking in the smoothness of colors, the richness hanging in the air and the feel of the handrail under her fingers.
    When they reached the landing, a well-mannered attendant ushered them into a private dining room while pretending not to notice her dirty jeans and sneakers. Eccentricity must definitely be tolerated among rich patrons.
    The same atmosphere of luxuriousness reigned inside the room. When Garrett released her arm to indicate the table, a cold sensation overran her.
    Why did she feel abandoned? Doing her best to ignore the hole in her stomach, she glanced at the severe man she’d met a few hours ago and swallowed the lump in her throat as he suddenly brought his hands up to cup her face.

Chapter 4
    Tracy froze, heart pounding. Stretched out toward her, Garrett’s fingers seemed to approach in slow motion as he brought them ever closer to her cheeks. What was he doing? Attempting to kiss