His Secret Temptation

“What makes you think I’d fall in love with your brother?” To her relief, her breathless state didn’t penetrate Simon’s irritation. “He has Francine.”

“And they’re having problems. After I tell him what she’s been up to, he’ll probably break off the engagement and he’ll be free.”

“And you think I’ll be standing by to pick up the pieces?”

Caroline should have been angry with Simon for believing she was an opportunist, but the only emotion available to her came with molten gold pouring through her veins. His masculine scent and sexual magnetism set her senses ablaze.

“Why not?” he demanded. “He’s rich. Passably good-looking.” His blue eyes held all the warmth of lapis. “And you’re both lawyers, or you will be soon enough. You’ll have lots in common.”

Was he listening to himself? Caroline wasn’t sure if she was more angry with him for assuming she’d go after his brother, or herself for being delighted that it bothered him.

“You’ve lost your mind,” she said, unsure which of them she referred to. “Your brother’s not interested in me.”

Simon emitted a bitter snort. “I saw the way he was looking at you, holding your hand.”

“He wanted to see my ring,” she protested. What had Simon seen in his brother’s manner that she’d missed?

“He wanted more than that.”

“M-more?” She sputtered to a stop. Where had Simon gotten that idea? Well sure, Dane had flirted with her, but charming women came as naturally to the Holcroft men as breathing. “Like what exactly?”

Moving with deliberate intent, he slid his gaze from her eyes to her lips and swept lower. Men had checked her out like this before, but not once had she enjoyed it. Caroline stifled a groan at the plunge into desire. She’d never experienced anything like this crazy, dizzying hunger to press hard against Simon and let him do whatever he wanted with her body. Was this what her mother had warned her about? This hot, drugging slide into sensual abandonment?

His broad chest beckoned. She balled her fingers into a fist to keep from running her fingers across his soft cotton sweater in search of his heartbeat. Would it be slow and measured, or racing the way hers was? She floated in the memory of the kiss they’d shared that morning. His lips, firm yet soft, tantalized her with a glimpse of passion.

“You didn’t look as if you minded.”

She was having a hard time capturing his meaning. “Minded what?”

“That he was touching you.”

A muscle in Simon’s jaw jumped as he glared at her. He looked like a jealous fiancé. But he wasn’t jealous. Or her fiancé.

There was no way Simon was reacting to that innocent encounter on the sofa. Something older, more deeply buried in his psyche was causing him to behave irrationally.

“You mean touching my hand when I was showing him the ring you bought me to seal our pretend engagement?” They were arguing as if they were a real couple instead of two people who had met three days ago.

“You’re not the first woman I’ve dated that my brother’s been attracted to.”

This was about Francine. Clarity dashed cold water on Caroline’s overheated emotions.

“I’m not Francine,” she murmured, placing her palm on his cheek. Then even softer, “We’re not engaged, remember?”

He blinked like a man coming awake from a trance. She sympathized. They were starting to believe their own lies. Yet every moment with Simon felt more real than the last. As for the way his nearness made her pulse race, she’d better be careful or she’d become lost in the same delusion that had just gripped him.

He set her free and spun toward the kitchen. Noting the stiff set of his shoulders, she realized she’d said the wrong thing. She probably should have told him she wasn’t interested in his brother.

“Simon…” What was she planning on saying to him? I’m not attracted to your brother because since waking in your bed, I’m obsessed with you?

She pursued him to the kitchen, and found him standing with his hands braced on the counter, his gaze on the floor. Stepping to his side, she touched him on the shoulder. He gathered a deep breath and glanced her way.

“What the hell just happened?” he asked, pushing away from the counter and taking her hands in his. His thumbs grazed her knuckles. Although he retained his tense frown, the intensity had leaked out of him.

“I’m not sure.” The lingering confusion in his eyes made her long to wrap her arms around him. “Maybe a flashback to what happened between you and Francine.”

“Yeah, that’s got to be it. Seeing you with Dane, all I could think was that I was going to lose you to him.” Seconds ticked by sluggishly as they stared at each other. Then a chuckle whooshed out of him. “You accused me of losing my mind. I think I did. Forgive me?”

“Sure.”