Tempting Read Online Free PDF Page A

crinkled slightly, as if he knew a really funny secret. He still took her breath away every time she saw him.
    â€œHi, sweetheart,” he said as he moved toward her. “How are you?”
    â€œGood. You’re home early.”
    â€œI wanted to see you.”
    Her heart quickened at his words.
    He leaned in and kissed her. The second his mouth touched hers, the familiar wanting flared to life. She hid her reaction to the casual kiss—a trick she’d learned in the first few months of her marriage. But that didn’t make the need go away.
    Years ago she’d read an article about relationships. The author claimed that in most marriages there was the one who adored and the one who was adored. She knew that was true for them. Mark loved her, but he didn’t worship her. He didn’t understand how deeply her feelings ran. She’d learned to control the wild, romantic and sexual feelings swirling inside of her whenever he was close, but she’d never been able to make them go away. He was the only man for her. At least she’d been lucky enough to marry him.
    He took her hand in his and smiled. “Come on. Let’s go talk.”
    â€œDon’t you want to say hi to the kids?”
    â€œLater. I want to talk to you first.”
    Mark was a typical guy. Despite his ability to chat with contributors for hours and never break a sweat, anytime she suggested they talk, he had a thousand other things he needed to be doing. So why the sudden change? What was there to talk about? She shivered slightly.
    They went into his book-lined study. He shut the door behind them, then led her to the leather sofa. His expression was unfamiliar. Was he upset? No, that wasn’t right. More resigned. About what? Cold, hard fear knotted in her belly.
    Was he leaving her?
    Her brain pointed out that even if he was desperate to get away, leaving his wife while exploring the possibility of running for president wasn’t a good idea. Her heart whispered that of course he loved her. He’d been busier than usual lately, but that was to be expected. She should stop worrying about nothing. Still, her hands trembled slightly as she folded them in her lap and looked at him.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked.
    She would guess that from the outside, she appeared totally calm and in control. That’s what Mark would see. What she wanted him to see.
    â€œA young woman came to meet me today,” Mark told her. “Or maybe not so young. She’s twenty-eight. I guess that means I’m getting old. Are you still interested in being married to an old guy? After all, you’re the hot one in our relationship.”
    He spoke easily, smiling, holding her gaze. She should have been relaxed. But she wasn’t. She was terrified and she couldn’t say why.
    â€œYou’re not an old guy,” she said, doing her best not to visibly tremble.
    â€œFifty-four.”
    â€œI’m fifty-six,” she pointed out. “Are you going to trade me in for a younger model?”
    â€œYou’re the most beautiful woman in the world,” he told her. “You’re my wife.”
    Soothing words that should have made her feel better. But they didn’t.
    â€œSo who is this young woman?”
    â€œHer name is Dani Buchanan. Dani for Danielle, Alex told me later.”
    â€œAlex? What does he have to do with this?”
    â€œNot anything, really. He was there and he met her. Tried to run her off. Your son is quite the watchdog.”
    â€œHe cares about his family.”
    â€œI know.” Mark touched her cheek. “Katherine, do you remember when we were engaged the first time? How you ended things with me?”
    She nodded slowly. She’d been an only child from an old money East Coast family. Her parents hadn’t approved of her relationship with a brash young man from Seattle. Mark had charm and energy but no family to speak of and certainly no pedigree. Still,