She’d been far too forward in her dealings with him and couldn’t blame him for taking advantage.
Besides, this whole sordid situation was probably her mind’s only defense against what she’d learned about her husband. She’d taken all her schoolgirl dreams and longings, which had been wasted on Daniel, and hung them on Talon instead.
She should be figuring out what she was going to do with the rest of her life instead of sitting here fantasizing about her brother-in-law.
After all, he’d disappear from her life in a matter of weeks, but she’d have to deal with Daniel forever.
A soft rap on her bedroom door came from the sitting room, not the hall. It had to be Talon. She cursed herself for the spike of happiness that surged within her. “Just a minute.” She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, despairing over her bedraggled appearance.
“May I come in?” Talon’s voice sounded muffled and far away.
Despite all her earlier misgivings, Kate found it impossible to turn him away. “Of course.”
He entered her bedroom, and heat rushed to her cheeks when he glanced at the large, satin-draped bed in the corner. His very presence was sheer temptation. If she had any sense, she would have joined him in the sitting room instead.
She cleared her throat. “Do you need something?” Too late, she realized that was not the kind of question she should ask when entertaining a man in her bedroom.
A small smile pulled at the corners of his sensual mouth. Then he shook his head and met her embarrassed gaze. “I just came to apologize. I don’t want you to be angry.”
“I’m not angry,” she hastened to assure him. “Don’t give it another thought.”
He took another step toward her, and she fought the impulse to back away. Lifting his hand, he cupped her face, his tender touch melting the last of her defenses. “Good,” he whispered, leaning forward and brushing her forehead with his lips. “Don’t ever be angry with me, sweetheart. I don’t think I could bear it.”
For a long, loaded moment, they stared at each other. Something inside her shifted and fell away. She wasn’t sure what had changed, but she knew with utter certainty that some sort of inner line had been crossed.
He must have felt something similar, because a look of confusion crossed his handsome face, and he fell back a step. “I’ll see you at dinner?”
She nodded, unable to form a coherent thought. If he’d held out his hand, she would have fallen into his arms and damned the consequences. Luckily, he turned on his heels and exited her room.
For a long time, she stood where he’d left her, staring after him. Then she sank into a chair, coming face to face with a horrible truth.
Even though she knew it was wrong, even though it could only bring heartache, she was helpless to resist Talon Montgomery’s hypnotic attraction. She was his for the taking. All he needed to do was ask.
* * * * *
Talon fled Kate’s room as though the hounds of hell were on his heels. He’d only meant to gauge her mood, but the attraction between them had roared to life and he’d been lucky to escape without being burned alive.
He’d wanted to make love to her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. In fact, he was still trembling with desire, still half- tempted to go back there and toss her down on that big, plush bed.
“Do you really think you can get away with making a fool of me?”
Sutcliffe’s booming voice stopped Talon dead in his tracks. He gripped the mahogany banister and schooled his features into an expressionless mask before turning to face his nemesis. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sutcliffe stood at the top of the stairs, a superior position since Talon was halfway down them. “Get back up here. We need to talk.”
Talon affected an air of complete boredom. “Say whatever you have to say. I’m going out.”
The look on Sutcliffe’s face was priceless. Talon wondered idly if he could solve all his problems by angering the man until he dropped dead of apoplexy.
Cursing under his breath, Sutcliffe stomped down the stairs until he and Talon stood eye to eye. “Everyone at the club was talking about you and Kathryn. They saw you riding together in the park.”
“What of it?”
“I won’t have it!” Sutcliffe’s voice thundered through the large, vaulted space, causing a maid down the hall to turn her head.
Talon lifted a brow. “Careful. You’ll have the servants talking.”
“Your relationship with Kathryn must remain discreet.” Sutcliffe lowered his voice to a fierce, angry whisper. “There will be no more public displays. No one must doubt this child is Daniel’s.”
