Topping
the stairs, Simon paused to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness.
He saw Georgina, a lone woman in a loose-fitting brown dress, slowly
making her way deeper into the shadows, eschewing the confusion of
light and noise below in favor of this dark gallery, lined by empty
bookshelves. She paused to run her finger along a shelf, allowing
him a clear view of her face in profile. With her hair resting at
the nape of her neck in an intricately formed knot, she appeared a
porcelain cameo, cool and finely drawn, above all the messy emotions
that plagued normal human beings. When her mouth came to life in a
close-lipped, wistful little grin, Simon lost his breath.
Tell me what
you’re thinking, share yourself with me.
Stunned by the depth of longing
behind that wholly unwelcome thought, Simon turned to leave her to
her solitary wanderings. He’d come up here to mess with her, not yearn
for a clue into what had brought on that sad smile. But then she turned
her head, aware that she was no longer alone, and he hated her response
when she realized who had joined her. The way she stiffened and drew
back, crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her nose into the
air, all of it shoved him forward, each reaction moving him one step
closer until he was nearly on top of her.
She didn’t so much as flinch.
Instead, she looked him up and down, as if she couldn’t quite believe
he would dare approach her.
Without saying a word, Simon waited until
her eyes met his. Then he pushed forward, breaching that invisible
line people set up between themselves and the unknown, barging into
her personal space. That got her. She backed up with a soft gasp and
a small, stumbling step that left her trapped between the bookshelves
and his body. He felt a rush of triumph at having shaken her reserve
but it wasn’t nearly enough. He lifted his arm, set his drink on the
shelf next to her head and then gripped the edge of that same shelf,
caging her on one side.
She didn’t like that. Her eyes widened and
she drew in her breath. Simon thoroughly enjoyed the tremulous sound
as he let his gaze roam over her face.
Large, dark eyes, smooth pale skin and a gorgeous mouth he hated to admit he’d entertained a few fantasies about since the last time he’d seen her. Wide and soft and gently curved, her mouth was the one sensuous aspect of her appearance she couldn’t downplay or hide altogether. It probably drove her nuts that she had a mouth any man would pay good money to use.