Too Much Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page B

mirror.”
    “And I have a hard-on.”
    She drew back, blinking rapidly. “You…you’re drunk.”
    “Yeah.” He couldn’t very well deny that when even now he kept swaying on his feet. “I’m also ready to combust with wanting to get inside you.” There, let her deal with that honesty.
    Her gaze skipped down his body to his lap, her fascination almost tangible. Damn, but Noah felt it like a lick of fire.
    Or just a lick.
    “Not,” he rasped, wanting to reassure her, “that I intend to do anything about it.”
    Grace chewed her lips, still staring at his cock, which without his instruction flexed and strained against the rough denim of his jeans. She lifted dark eyes to his. “No?”
    Through his teeth, Noah said, “You’re an incredible woman, Grace. Too damn good to be bedding down with me.”
    That caused her modesty to evaporate posthaste. “No!” She rounded the bed in a furious stomp that did interesting things to all her bouncing parts. With a short finger jabbing at his chest, she shouted, “You’re the finest man I know, Noah Harper!”
    He caught and held her wrist, keeping her hand close so she couldn’t prod a hole into him. “A man presently disowned by the only family who ever wanted to claim him.”
    Anger vibrated through her. Her hand opened on his chest, fisted in his sweatshirt. “Agatha is being pigheaded. But don’t worry, I’ll see to her.”
    Now that thought was truly alarming. “You let me deal with Agatha.”
    Her chin firmed. “I’ll do what I think is right.”
    Noah scowled. “Grace, it’s not necessary for you to get involved. I have no doubt my grandmother will turn around soon enough. She might not really want me in the family—”
    “She does!”
    “—but she needs me there all the same.”
    Her frown almost matched his own. “What are you talking about?”
    “In the last few years, there’s been a shift of power in at least one aspect.” Noah felt great satisfaction as he explained, “Not only have I been in charge of all the finances, making all the decisions without influence, but the employees at the restaurant are loyal to me first, Agatha second. And she knows it.”
    Looking much struck, Grace murmured, “I hadn’t really thought about it, but of course you’re right. She’s been deferring to you for so long…”
    “Hoisting all the work on me, you mean. Especially anything that required a diplomatic tongue.” At Harper’s Bistro, Noah was in charge, and that gave him leverage. “Agatha tends to demand a lot for a little, and her impatience is legendary. I believe in rewarding good work accordingly.”
    Grace stared at him, deep in thought. “I know you’re very respected. Agatha brags about that all the time.”
    Noah didn’t allow himself to believe that. Compliments from his grandmother were few and far between. Not that he gave a damn. Not anymore.
    “The fact that Agatha chose to add another chef into an already territorial mix of personnel will only alienate them more. If she doesn’t quit pushing, she’s going to end up with several key members of the staff walking out.”
    And then, Noah thought, she’d be beckoning him back, despite what her society friends might have to say about it.
    He knew how to deal with his grandmother, and he would.
    “Oh dear,” Grace said, already jumping ahead mentally to all the complications, and likely more work such a scenario would bring her. As Agatha’s personal secretary, Grace caught the brunt of his grandmother’s temper and had to deal with the fallout whenever things didn’t go her way. Grace had fixed more messes than Noah ever would.
    Noah watched Grace’s smooth brow pucker, saw her purse her mouth in contemplation. Even with all her bravado, Grace was no match for his hardhearted grandmother. Thinking that, Noah touched her cheek. She was so damn soft. All over. And it made him nuts. “I don’t need you to fight my battles, Gracie.”
    “Standing up for what’s right is