Forbidden: A Sinful Shares Romance
Page 14
Eyes the color of blue midnight returned her stare. She sensed he would find it less than difficult to read her most secret thoughts.
Uh oh.
Laugh lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes when he smiled slightly while squeezing her hand. The realization that he could so effortlessly see inside her shook Emily up.
Slowly releasing her hand, he stepped back and chuckled. “Are you always this tongue-tied? I’m really starting to think it’s me.”
Nothing like being called out for behaving like a twit. She swiped her tongue at both corners of her lips just to be sure she wasn’t actually drooling.
If she didn’t say something intelligent soon, he was going to think her daft. “Hi,” she croaked. Barley managing to suppress an eye roll at how stupid she sounded, she took two steps away from the railing into what she perceived was a safe zone on her side of the porch.
His knowing smirk did nothing to calm her rattled composure.
Maybe she should try to wrestle back a bit of control over this odd situation. Pushing hair behind one of her ears, she smashed her lips together, cleared her throat and took a stab starting with making it clear that a handsome face wasn’t enough to let him off the hook.
“You’re Eileen Jeffries’ son?”
“Indeed I am,” he chuckled. “Sylvia has gone to stay with my mom for a bit. She’s had a bit of surgery and needs help right now.”
“Help a son couldn’t provide?”
Her clumsy contrived attempt at a third degree didn’t go unnoticed.
Shoving a hand into the pocket of his immaculately tailored slacks, he leaned against the stone column and shook his head in mock-disbelief.
“You’re not very trusting are you?”
Yeah, whatever. She stared right back at him.
He shrugged. “Female surgery, Miss Sinclair. Something a sister would navigate better than a whole room full of clueless males.”
Who was he kidding? “You do not strike me as clueless, Mr. Jeffries.”
Why the hell were they speaking so formally? It was rattling her cage in a big way. Everything about this guy screamed different.
“And you, Miss Sinclair, strike me as someone who wants to know where the boundaries are. In everything,” he added in a silky growl.
Her neck bloomed goosebumps that spread across her shoulders. His voice sent chills racing through her.
“Some would say situational awareness is better than boundaries.” What was she doing? Verbally sparring with this man did not strike her as a smart idea. She didn’t doubt for a second that he’d win every round. For someone who saw control as a virtue, the thought was a disturbing one.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Halliday writes what she knows and what she loves – sexy contemporary romance featuring strong men and spirited women. Her love of creating short stories for friends and family developed into a passion for writing romantic fiction with a sensual edge. She finds the world of digital, self-publishing to be the perfect platform for sharing her stories and also for what she enjoys most of all – reading. When she’s not on a deadline you’ll find her loading up on books to devour.
No longer wandering because the desert southwest finally claimed her, these days instead of digging out from a snowstorm you can still find Suzanne with 80’s hair band music playing in the background, kids running in and out, laptop on with way too many screens open, something awesome in the oven, and a mug of hot tea clutched in one hand.
Suzanne is the proud mother of USA Today Bestselling Author Ella Fox.
Also by Suzanne Halliday
SINFUL SHARES NOVELLAS
Control
Hidden
Forbidden
JUSTICE BROTHERS SERIES
Broken Justice
Fixing Justice
Redeeming Justice
Original Justice (novella)
FAMILY JUSTICE SERIES
Always
Desert Angel
Sanctuary
Unchained
Unforgettable
Everlasting
Unstoppable
Dear Bella (novella)
Honeymoon Angel (novella)
WILDE WOMEN SERIES
Wilde Forever
Wilde Heart
Wilde Magic
JUSTICE ~ WILDE CROSSOVER
Bishop’s Pawn
Checkmate (novella)
AFFAIR SERIES
The Gideon Affair
The Wedding Affair
STAND ALONE TITLES
Cupid in Heels