To Seduce a Rogue Read Online Free PDF Page A

wanted to thank him and better to do it while those dark eyes of his were not lighting a small fire in her stomach. “Thank you for the help today. I’m not sure why you did it...but I appreciate the effort. Sometimes it’s hard to do everything yourself.”
    “There are so many sounds here we lose in the city. Sounds I have not heard in years.” His voice was soft, low.
    His eyes had not opened so she continued to stare. He had been speaking like this all day. Not about the newspaper or anything they could possibly debate, but normal things like rain and the exquisite color of butterflies, the unconditional love of dogs and horses, and the calming sound of the ocean as it rolls into the shore. He shied away from discussing his childhood; she did as well. All things considered—quite unbelievably—she had enjoyed the day. Enjoyed speaking to someone about subjects independent of the latest Beautification Society meeting or the best way to raise a cash crop.
    His eyes fluttered open. He looked drowsy and sated. “I came to help you for a number of reasons. I was curious. Miles puts a lot of stock in you, and I’m coming to respect his judgment. Also, from what I’ve read, you’re a good writer, a little rough around the edges, but that’s where I come in. And, you know this town.” He covered his mouth and yawned. She watched the muscles in his neck elongate. “You would be good for the Sentinel . You know that. The experience would be good for you. Plus” —he closed his eyes— “I need your help.”
    She gazed across the yard, stunned.
    He needed her help.
    She wanted to do it. The absence of her father and the newspaper had left a vacant gap in her heart, in her life. She longed to hear the peculiar sound of the press, to smell the sharp scent of ink, to discuss the latest news, to decide the length of stories, and to hold the finished product in her hands and know it had come from her hard work. But the Sentinel was Stokes’ concern now, wasn’t it?
    Or was it Adam Chase’s?
    A loud meow pierced the silence. They jumped as if a gun had discharged behind their backs, then turned to each other and laughed.
    She leaned in and snapped her fingers. “Faustus is a naughty kitty, not coming home for two days.” The large, orange cat sauntered to the rocking chair and began to run his back against it. Charlie scratched his ears and murmured childlike phrases.
    “So, this is the illustrious Faustus. He’s a...big fellow. What do you feed the thing?” Adam grimaced as Faustus strolled to his chair and began to meow.
    Charlie grinned. “He likes to be scratched behind his ears or under his chin.”
    “No, thank you. I am not, and never will be, a cat man.” He wrinkled his nose in displeasure, but trailed a hesitant finger underneath Faustus’ adequate chin.
    “You mean you don’t like animals? How could you not like animals?”
    He raised his hands in mock surrender. Faustus meowed when the scratching stopped. “Hold on now, I didn’t say I hated animals. Only, I do not love cats. Actually, horses are my great weakness. In fact, mine should be arriving any day now. An associate from Virginia, on a round-about way to Charleston, is bringing him through.”
    A horseman. Charlie could imagine him astride a horse. She was glad he couldn’t see the flush settling on her cheeks.
    “Taber’s a beautiful beast. A palomino the color of spun gold with a tail that reminds me of ivory. Pure. And fast. Some say the fastest horse in Richmond.”
    “Taber? What an unusual name.”
    “It was my brother’s middle name.” Damn, Chase . Why mention that? Adam took hold of himself as he felt his composure slip.
    “Do you ride often?”
    He found himself rubbing the crescent scar on his wrist. He pulled his hands apart. “I like to ride often. Every day if I can. Sometimes it’s my only way to escape.”
    “Escape from what?” Her words floated to him.
    Like shadows on the surface of a stream, anxiety, grief