The Billionaire's Voice (The Sinclairs #4) Read Online Free PDF

face was intense as he spoke. “You don’t have to do it alone.”
    “I can’t do it at all,” she mumbled, unable to pull her hand from his. That simple contact warmed her, and the need for human connection was gnawing at her soul.
    “Yes, you can. We danced, and you’re still just as graceful as you ever were. You can feel the rhythm of music somehow. You must.”
    Actually, she really didn’t hear whatever music was playing. She could sense vibrations. Once she understood the tempo, she matched a piece of music to that pace in her head. With Micah’s confident lead, she’d been easily able to waltz with him. That night, the evening of Hope’s ball last winter, had been a very memorable evening. She’d felt like Cinderella, and she’d never wanted to leave Micah’s arms. Unfortunately, the dance had ended, but Tessa still hadn’t forgotten the feel of his powerful body guiding her, immersing her in sensation.
    Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t hear anything.”
    She explained how she was able to dance as Micah appeared to listen intently.
    His grip on her fingers tightened. “I think you could manage to skate a routine the same way you danced,” he told her, slipping his hand from hers to sign the words he was speaking.
    The action had been unnecessary. Tessa had understood him, and her heart immediately started to ache from the lack of contact. “I can’t,” she insisted, unwilling to open a part of her life that needed to stay closed and in the past.
    “Can’t or won’t?” he replied.
    Micah was irritatingly persistent, and Tessa was starting to find the entire conversation uncomfortable. She didn’t want to spill her guts to a guy she barely knew. Her lips started to curve into a smile as she considered the ironic fact that both of them knew what the other one looked like naked even though they’d exchanged very few words in the past. “Won’t,” she answered honestly.
    “Why?” He looked genuinely perplexed now.
    She could have answered his one-word question so many ways. The best answer was that she hadn’t even tried to skate in almost a decade. She could claim that she was out of shape, which was true. Or she could try one more time to explain that she couldn’t hear the music. Again, it wouldn’t be a dishonest answer. She said none of those things.
    “I’m scared,” she blurted out impulsively, telling him the real reason she’d never touched a pair of skates again. Her life in the last several years had been depressing, full of painful emotional blows and losses. Getting on ice again and failing might very well finish her off, destroy her.
    He shrugged. “I think that’s natural. But you were the best in the world. Doing a simple routine would be a piece of cake. The Fund doesn’t expect you to be perfect. All of the athletes invited to perform are past Olympians. They’re all way past the age where they’re in shape for competition.”
    Looking at him suspiciously, she asked, “I still haven’t figured out how your charity found me. Did you tell them where to find me?”
    “I didn’t know who you were until I read that letter. I swear. I knew they were planning the event, but I didn’t know you were involved.”
    “I’m not,” she answered hurriedly.
    “But you can be.” He lifted an eyebrow in challenge.
    Damn. Damn. Damn. There was nothing harder for her than to ignore a direct dare, and Micah was testing her. “It’s not feasible. I have jobs to do.”
    He shook his head. “Not a good-enough reason. You wouldn’t have to be in New York for more than a few days to perform, and you already admitted you aren’t needed as much at the restaurant. Your responsibilities can be covered by somebody else.”
    “I’d only have six weeks to prepare. I can’t get in shape in such a short amount of time, and I can’t relearn skills I’ve probably long forgotten.”
    “You didn’t forget; you’ve just buried the desire to get on skates again.”
    He was