Scandalous Read Online Free PDF Page B

mistrust, my politics, and my old hurts aside and enjoy this time with a very sexy man who makes it so easy to forget. She stepped out the door, determined and confident, strutted around to the passenger side of his car, and slid in.
    â€œTwenty-five minutes,” Justin said, checking his watch before pulling the car onto the road. “You said twenty. I was beginning to get worried.”
    â€œRight.” She rolled her eyes, intent on pretending annoyance. “Just drive, before I change my mind.” But the confidence that she’d had only moments before seemed to dissolve by the second as the close proximity of Justin Montgomery took its full effect on her. What am I doing? she worried, the strong manly scent of him scrambling her thoughts.
    For several minutes they drove in silence, the steady rhythm of the car stereo the only sound. Vaughn fiddled with the gold button on her jacket and had nearly pulled it off when Justin’s voice broke the silence.
    â€œI’ve never known a woman named Vaughn. It’s quite unusual.” He looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Is it a family name?”
    She smiled briefly. How many times in school and in business had she been mistaken for a man when her name was read on the register or her résumé was reviewed by prospective employers? She secretly enjoyed the looks of surprise when she’d answered in attendance or appeared at an interview. She only wished that the reason for herunusual name was because someone cared that much about her to have her carry on the name.
    â€œMy father wanted a boy.” Justin caught the hint of wistfulness in her voice. He looked at her curiously, but her face remained impassive. “I guess it was his way of saying to hell with fate,” she concluded.
    â€œHe’s definitely tempted fate on a lot of levels.”
    â€œHe certainly has,” she answered shortly.
    â€œHave I hit a sore spot?”
    Vaughn snapped her head in his direction. “Why would you ask something like that?” she countered defensively.
    â€œI watched you with your father last night and the way that you responded to him. Now when his name comes up you get all tense.”
    Vaughn straightened up in her seat. “I didn’t think it was that obvious,” she replied quietly, disconcerted that the public mask she’d so expertly kept in place had slipped. Or was it simply that this man—this devastating man—had seemed to see through all the barricades she’d erected, apparently without effort? The thought stirred her uncomfortably.
    â€œIt is. But if you’d rather not talk about it, then we won’t.”
    â€œThen I guess we won’t.”
    â€œFine. What would you like to talk about?”
    She hesitated a beat. “I’d like to talk about why you’re so intent on squeezing your way into my life, for starters.”
    â€œGood comeback,” he said jovially. “How about if I give you a full confession over brunch? We’re almost there.”
    For the first time since she’d stepped into the car, she took note of her surroundings. The smell of the James River filled the interior. Vaughn turned her head toward Justin and stared at him through narrowed eyes.
    â€œI thought a nice midday riverboat cruise on the Annabel Lee would be nice,” Justin offered, in response to Vaughn’s questioning look. “I hear the food is excellent. There’s a live band, and most important, you can’t get away from me unless you decide to jump overboard.” He squinted his beautiful brown eyes at her. “That was the deciding factor.”
    â€œVery funny,” Vaughn said. “And very thoughtful,” she added, with a dimpled smile that set Justin’s pulse racing.
    â€œI was hoping you’d say that.” Unable to resist the temptation of tasting her again, he quickly leaned over and kissed her moist mouth. Relishing the