The Baron Read Online Free PDF Page B

unpretentious way. His very own barefoot contessa. A delighted grin softened his face.
    Halley’s brows lifted. “Now, Baron, was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?”
    Nick hadn’t the faintest idea why he had insisted on coming in. Oh, he knew what he’d
like
, but he’dknown, too, there was no way in hell he’d end up in bed tonight with the Contessa. Still, there was something there besides those fires she’d lit in him, and he couldn’t seem to let her go, to walk away from whatever that something was. “As a matter of fact, there is something else, Tessa.”
    Halley leaned her head to one side, waiting.
    “I … I find you intriguing.” Hell, he felt like a kid on a first date! His wide mouth curved into a lopsided grin. “As a matter of fact, I like you very much, Contessa-whoever-you-are.”
    Halley rubbed her cheek thoughtfully with two fingers, a habit her friend Rosie teased her about. Watch out, she’d say with a laugh, Finnegan’s brain patterns are going berserk again! It wasn’t actually her brain patterns going berserk this time, it was her heart … and other parts of her. And on top of it all was the incredible urge to laugh at the whole crazy, irrational, extraordinary scene.
    The laugh mellowed into a smile, and Halley’s gaze finally met the black eyes that hadn’t stopped staring at her face. “Good. Intriguing is something I’ve never quite carried off before. Perhaps I’ve gotten something from this weekend, after all.”
    “You don’t like weekend parties?”
    “It depends.”
    “On?” Nick had moved several inches closer to her on the couch.
    Halley wondered why breathing had suddenly become complicated. “This is fine, as parties go.” She wanted to smile and laugh and tell him about late-night pizza parties on the floor of her living room, and picnics following the library fund-raisers.
Her
kind of parties. But she couldn’t seem to say another word.
    “Contessa, I’m deadly serious.”
    Halley forced a laugh. “Oh, dear,
deadly
isn’t a word to throw around lightly here.”
    Nick touched her lightly on the shoulder. “You’re safe with me,” he murmured.
    Oh, dear, no. If this was safe, what was
dangerous
in this man’s world? Halley swallowed hard.
    “I meant what I said before, Tessa. You’re lovely and different, and I hope we can make the most of this weekend.”
    “Stop it!” Halley’s face was so close to his, she could feel his breath on her cheeks and her heart beat wildly. “I think the fantasy element of this weekend has gone to your head, Baron.”
    “It’s not my
head
I’m worried about.”
    “You don’t even know who I am or what I do. I could be a lady of the streets, an actress hired by the mystery troupe … a … a …” She was breathing hard now and wasn’t even aware that her sweater had fallen open and her nearly naked breasts were almost touching his body.
    “I don’t give a damn what you do, but I’m absolutely intrigued by who you are. I’d like to know lots more about you, Tessa. Find out what books you read and what you like in your coffee—”
    “I don’t drink coffee,” Halley said quickly.
    He moved closer. “I want to learn why you blush when I flirt with you, then appear so damn competent and sure of yourself when you pull away.”
    “I
am
competent. The competent contessa, that’s me,” Halley whispered. The chill that had been in the air earlier had long disappeared, and she felt a thin beading of perspiration collecting between her breasts. She was sure the lights were dimming, as his hand settled lightly on her leg.
    “I … love … competence …” he said as his lips closed over hers with gentle, sure pressure.
    “Hmm,” she answered as her eyelashes swept down and she gave in to the warm surge of delight that eased through her body. She opened her eyes halfway.
    “I’m still here,” he murmured in the tiny space between them.
    “I thought so,” she