Too Sinful to Deny Read Online Free PDF

all morning. The wind blew open her pelisse, molding her gown against her figure. He didn’t bother pretending not to notice.
    She stared back at him dubiously, arms still stretched wide for balance.
    “Or shoot me?”
    Evan paused to consider. Now that both options were on the table, he had to admit he was more enthusiastic about biting women than shooting them. Nibbling, rather. Why, there was one saucy wench he’d met one night off the coast of—
    “If it takes that long to decide—”
    “Oh, calm down.” Evan held up his empty palms, to indicate peaceful intent. Not that he couldn’t have a pistol aimed and fired in less than a second. Nibbling her, of course . . . now that would take some finesse. No. Debutante, he reminded himself. Hands off. “I promise neither to bite you nor to shoot you.”
    . . . Today. Unless she wanted it or deserved it. In that order.
    She didn’t move.
    “I think,” she said at last, “trusting you would be the height of naïveté.”
    Evan had to agree. He inclined his head. Perhaps she had a dose of common sense after all. Even he was starting not to trust himself. His mind was positive he should stay far, far away, but his body seemed to think a few minutes alone with hers would do them both quite nicely.
    “Unfortunately,” the dangerously comely blonde continued with a quick glance behind her, “at the moment, I seem to be without the luxury of choice.”
    “Pity.” He held out his hand and flashed his most untrustworthy smile.
    She scowled at him.
    His smile widened.
    “Scoundrel.”
    “You have no idea.”
    A frustrated sound escaped her lips. She glared at him, wobbled, then cast her gaze skyward as if hoping for divine intervention.
    Attractive as the untouchable debutante might be, Evan did not have time to waste. He debated walking off while she wasn’t looking. Ungentlemanly, perhaps, but at least he could deliver himself from temptation.
    “Look. I can’t stand around waiting to see whether or not you fall to your death. Why don’t you let me know if you’re going to be heading one direction or the other, or if you’re going to stand there all day? I’ve got things I really ought to be doing instead of—”
    “What things? How can you have plans first thing in the morning? It’s a wretched, ungodly hour. Where are you going? Are you meeting someone? On the beach? ”
    Evan stared at the blonde’s suddenly animated face in disbelief. Here he was, undressing her in his mind, and she wanted to compose an interview? The only thing worse than a marriage-minded female was a nosy marriage-minded female. “I take it back. I hereby reserve the right to shoot you at will.”
    Her pink lips rounded. “But you promised—”
    “Or nibble you.” He flashed his hallmark can’t-trust-me smile. “Whichever I prefer.”
    Her hands balled into fists. “I would never allow—Oh!”
    A chunk of the sandy path dislodged beneath her feet, sending her arms flailing. She fell backward, still scrabbling for purchase on the crumbling slope. Instead of stabilizing, she slid down the side of the cliff on her rear, bringing most of the path with her.
    “Christ,” Evan muttered.
    There went his shortcut. And here came his blonde.
    Despite the torrent of sand raining into his eyes, he rushed forward, arms outstretched, and managed to intercept his erstwhile pursuer’s rapid descent and swing her clear from the falling debris. He shook the sand from his hair. She clung to his neck, eyes squeezed shut. And she definitely smelled of jasmine.
    “Next time,” he murmured, “don’t follow me.”
    Her eyes snapped open. Blue fire burned behind the spectacles.
    Still holding her soft body tight in his arms, Evan backed up a few paces to scrutinize the beach. Empty. Thank God. He wouldn’t want to be caught dead with a virginal London miss in his arms, regardless of the circumstances.
    Even one who smelled like jasmine.
    He glanced down at her. “At least you didn’t