Substitute Seduction (Sweet Tea And Scandal 2)

“Sounds like you two need to sort out what’s going on.” Tristan squeezed London’s arm. “If you get tired of slumming, give me a call.”

She remained silent, biting the inside of her lip as Harrison’s brother walked away. Words gathered in her throat but a lump prevented them from escaping. On the heels of the realization that she’d let the encounter with Tristan get away from her came the recognition that by falling for Harrison, she’d put her emotions in direct conflict with her promise to help Zoe.

“I thought we were on the same page,” Harrison said. “If we’re not dating, then what are we doing?”

“I don’t know.” As much as she wanted to escape his questions, he deserved honesty and openness. “This wasn’t supposed to get complicated.”

He frowned. “Because I’m not the man you think you want?”

“What?”

She was starting to believe he was the only man for her. And she’d made a mess of things.

His eyes flicked in the direction his brother had departed. “Are you thinking he could make you happy? Because he is incapable of putting anyone’s feelings above his own.”

“I’m not interested in your brother.” At least not in the way Harrison was insinuating. How could she defuse this argument without committing herself one way or another? “In fact, I was in the process of defending you when he hit on me. You interrupted us before I could react.”

Harrison assessed her for a long moment and whatever he glimpsed in her expression caused him to relax. “I don’t need you to defend me.”

“I know.” Yet she could see he appreciated it. She took his hand in both of hers and stepped into his space, waiting until the tension seeped from his body before she finished. “But there was no way I was going to stand by and let him criticize what you do.”

“It seems to me that you felt the same a couple weeks ago.” He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him.

“All the more reason for me to have your back. I was ignorant and shortsighted. You’re doing what you love and no one has the right to judge you for it. Not even your brother.”

“Fine. I forgive you,” he said, cupping her cheek while his lips dropped to hers.

His kiss was romantic and intoxicating. She threw herself into the embrace, shoving her worries aside for the moment. Later she would delve into the ever-deepening mess she was making of things.

How long they stood in the middle of the crowded party, lost in each other, London had no idea. But when Harrison eventually set her free, London returned to her body with a jolt.

What magic drove all thoughts of propriety and decorum from her mind whenever he took her in his arms? She’d never acted like this before and loved every second of it.

By contrast, her relationship with Linc had always been so proper. She’d certainly never thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him with utter abandon in a public place. She’d always been hyperaware of how things looked and who might be watching. With Harrison, even though he was also a celebrity, she never considered appearances before showing affection with him.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured when he ended the kiss.

“For what?”

So many things. “The way I feel when I’m with you is thrilling and scary all at once and way more intense than anything I’ve known before.”

He kissed her forehead. “For me it’s the exact opposite. Being with you calms me down. When we’re together, it feels right.”

Tears burned London’s eyes. The man was just too perfect and she didn’t deserve the happiness he brought her. Dabbing at the corner of her eye in what she hoped was a surreptitious manner, London took his hand in hers and exhaled heartily.

“You always say the right thing,” she told him, wishing he’d demonstrate some of his brother’s villainy. It would make using him to her advantage easier to swallow.

“Ready to go find our table?”

“Lead the way.”

* * *

“This is quite a place,” London remarked, taking in the state-of-the-art barn, paddocks, polo field and sprawling home with views that overlooked the horse pastures all belonging to Harrison’s brother.

She’d started scoping out the house as soon as it had come into view, needing to find a way in so she could use the USB drive in her purse. The task terrified her. What if she was caught? Or the drive didn’t work? Or the information they needed wasn’t on his computer. So much could go wrong.

As Everly promised, Harrison had invited her to the charity polo event hosted at Tristan’s property outside Charleston. She’d attended functions like this often wi