Tempts Me Read Online Free PDF

sun overhead. A rowboat. A picnic … Damn it. Elliott shook himself.
    Simone Kahan was trouble.
    “I promised Barry I’d come. So I did. But I don’t really want to be here—”
    “So it’s not me.”
    This gave him pause. A lot of it was her, as a matter of fact. “Bringing you was a mistake that for some reason I couldn’t help making.”
    “You can be a real asshole, Elliott. You know that?” With that, she turned on her heel and stalked off.
    He watched her go, intending to let her leave without so much as another word. He didn’t owe her anything. If anything, she was the one who should be grateful to him, bringing her to Barry’s place. He’d seen her work the crowd earlier. She’d never have been invited to anything this nice, if not for him.
    Ah, shit. I am an asshole.
    “Simone.”
    She didn’t turn, didn’t give him more than the barest glance over her shoulder as she kept walking. Mesmerized by the sway of her hips, Elliott could only stare like a gobsmacked schoolboy for so long that when he reached for her again, she was too far out of reach. He caught up to her in two long strides, and snagged her elbow. Without so much as a blink, Simone easily pulled from his grasp, never hesitating.
    “You wanted to leave. I’m leaving.”
    “I’ll call you a cab.”
    “No,” she said with a disdainful look. “You’ll take me home. All the way to my door. You invited me here; the least you can do is make sure I get home safely.”
    Even in their short acquaintance, Simone had figured out a way of putting him in his place. Showing him up. He hated it, mostly because she was right. He knew he could be rude. Inconsiderate. Arrogant. Enough women had told him so that Elliott had come to believe it was true. But deeper than that, the truth was, he had invited her here. It was his responsibility to make sure she made it home all right. Elliott took his responsibilities very seriously. Simone had hit the heart of him, unerringly, and maybe unknowingly.
    “Fine,” he told her. “I’ll make sure you get home.”
    The briefest smile quirked her mouth, and the flash in her gaze told him that she’d been expecting him to refuse her. Simone lifted her chin. Offered him her arm.
    “Sneaking out so soon?” asked a blonde.
    The tone of her voice told Elliott he ought to recognize her, but he didn’t and settled for a show of teeth meant to be a smile. “Yes. Good to see you, though.”
    “Who’s that?” He heard from behind him as he steered Simone through the crowd toward the front door.
    “That must be Elliott’s latest sweetheart,” came the reply.
    Simone heard it. She threw him an amused glance, then looked over her shoulder at whoever had said it. Then back at him as he kept his gaze on the front door. She had no coat, nothing to pause for, and he had her at the door before anyone else could stop them.
    Right before they made their escape into the foyer and the elevator just beyond, the man from the bathroom crossed in front of them. He gave Simone a wink and clapped Elliott on the shoulder. “Running off already? The party’s just getting started. Tell you what, the both of you look like you know how to have fun. How about you come on over to my party the next time I’m in town? It’ll be a good time, I promise. What do you say, honey?”
    Simone laughed and shrugged. “Sure. Sounds like fun.”
    Elliott said nothing as the man moved away, but suffered another clap on the shoulder. In the elevator, he punched the lobby button and leaned against the wall. Simone looked at him, shaking her head and laughing under her breath.
    “What?” Elliott said.
    “You have no idea.”
    He frowned. “So tell me.”
    “That guy,” Simone said as the doors opened and she went out without waiting for him, “was the future governor of Louisiana.”
    *   *   *
    She had no idea how stuff like that party worked, Simone would be the first to admit. Political wheelings and dealings. Currying favor.