One Night with Sole Regret 02 Tempt Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

with
it?”
    He shrugged. “Nothing, as far as I’m
concerned, but it's decorated with paintings of naked
chicks.”
    She laughed. “I do know what the
female form looks like. I happen to have one myself.”
    With a devious glint in his eyes, he
gave her a twice-over. “I noticed.”
    As an expert at reading people who
tried to hide things from her, she couldn’t overlook his hesitation
in answering her questions. “Is that really the reason? You don’t
have to make stuff up.”
    He reached for his beverage and
slurped soda from his near-empty glass, his attention focused down
his straw. Still not looking at her, he said, “That's really the
reason.”
    “ You could take the
pictures down if they embarrass you.”
    “ They don't embarrass me. I
was more worried about you.”
    He worried about her? She reminded
herself not to analyze his every word, looking for indications that
he cared.
    “ It took me years to
accumulate them,” he said.
    “ You accumulate porn ?”
    His eyebrows drew together, and he
shook his head. “It's not porn; it's art.”
    She figured his definition of art and
hers were as different as bunnies were from tiger
sharks.
    “ I promise I won't be
embarrassed,” she said. “I'd like to see where you
live.”
    He trained his gaze on her at last.
“Do you have plans to go paparazzi on me?”
    “ Of course not,” she said.
“Why would you think that?” Oh God, she must be coming across as
some desperate stalker chick.
    “ I don't tell people where
I live because I like privacy when I'm not on tour. I need to
unwind from the insanity of this business. Plus, time alone reminds
me that I'm actually a no-good loser whose only redeeming quality
is an ability to make sound come out of six steel
strings.”
    “ You're an amazing talent,
but there’s more to you than music,” she said, reaching for his
hand and squeezing. “And you are not a loser. But you are good. You
have a good heart, Adam.”
    He chuckled. “Do you actually believe
that?”
    “ I do. I’ve seen
it.”
    He held her gaze long
enough that his attention triggered her heart rate to
accelerate. Oh God, his eyes. She wanted to stare into them for eons.
    “ Are you trying to turn my
head, Madison Fairbanks?”
    “ Only if it's
working.”
    He lifted her hand to his lips and
kissed her knuckles. “It's working. You always know exactly what to
say.”
    So how did she say what was really on
her mind? She stared at him, collecting her courage.
    “ Are you finished eating?”
he asked.
    She looked down at her
nearly full plate and then at the still occupied restroom. Go away, people.
    “ Is it time to go?” Madison
dug her cellphone out of her purse and checked the time. “It's not
six yet.” She glanced up at him and found him staring at her with
hungry eyes. “I thought your sound check was at six
thirty.”
    “ I don't think I'm going to
make it on time.”
    “ AAC is only a few minutes
from here,” she said, pointing in the general direction of the
arena. “I'll drive you; I know the best routes to avoid
traffic.”
    “ That's not why I'm going
to be late.”
    His expression was entirely blank.
Unreadable. In their early counseling sessions, he’d always looked
out at the world from behind that wall, but why now?
    “ Is something wrong?” she
asked.
    “ Just one thing that I can
think of.”
    His hands slid to her wrists, his
thumbs resting against her pulse points. Her body knew his touch
and how well it pleased her. Just that small contact had her nerve
endings thrumming with excitement and her muscles melting in
surrender.
    “ What?” she
asked.
    “ You're still in your
dress.”
    She stifled a loud bark of laughter.
Mostly. “Well, the damned bathroom’s been occupied all night, and
I'm not going to remedy that situation here at the
table.”
    “ That's why we're going to
be late.” He lifted a hand to a passing waiter. “Check,
please.”
     
     
     

Chapter Five
    The band had rented a limo to