LEAD ME ON by Julie Ortolon (find a book to read TXT) 📕

danced around in the back of his mind. Galveston and New Orleans were fairly close, how hard would it be for them to get together a few times a year?

Then she’d mentioned the old feud between their families, which he’d assumed had died out generations ago, and he realized she hated the very blood that ran through his veins. If she found out he’d changed his name to Lawrence when he’d left home at eighteen, that he’d been born Scott LeRoche, she’d probably kick him out of the inn, and out of her life.

And if he touched her again knowing that, he’d deserve all the anger she cared to toss his way.

He heaved a sigh. “You realize this conjecture is all premature.”

“How so?”

“I haven’t exactly come up with a decent idea for my next book. All I had was one moment of mediocre creativity.”

“It’ll come back to you, though.” Total confidence shone in her eyes. “I’m sure of it.”

“God, I hope so. Because you have no idea how close I am to watching my career vanish. I’m contracted for a book that’s due out in October, and I haven’t even started it.”

“You’re kidding.” The confidence turned to surprise. “Can you write that fast?”

“When I have an idea, I can finish a book in eight weeks, if I have to. I prefer three to four months, but when I’m under the gun, I can do it in less. The problem is, I don’t have an idea that has a chance of getting past my editor. She shot down every proposal I sent her back when I was able to still write proposals.”

“What happens if you don’t come up with an idea?”

“I have to give back the portion of the advance they paid me when I signed the contract. Which would sever my relationship with my current publisher and put a big black mark next to my name. I’d have to find a new publisher willing to take a chance that it wouldn’t happen again, and to do that, I’d need an idea. Which puts me right back to square one.”

“It’ll work out, though. Look at how many wonderful books you’ve written. In fact, I bet all those ideas your editor rejected would have been fine. She just didn’t trust you.”

“You’re right. She didn’t. And she drives me nuts. She used to be my old editor’s assistant, so when Lisa retired, they made Penny my editor. When she was an assistant, we worked together fine. But now that she’s reached full editor status, she questions everything.” He rubbed his forehead. “It’s like trying to write by committee.”

“Maybe she’s just nervous. You should tell her to trust you.”

“I’ve tried telling her that. And my agent’s tried telling her that.” He looked at the woman sitting beside him with absolute faith in her eyes. “Maybe I should have you call her.”

“Well, maybe I just will,” she said in that prim voice of hers that always made him want to kiss her.

How in the world would he manage to stay at the inn for a whole month without getting his hands on her body one more time?

Chapter 12

Scott woke with a jolt to find the dark shadow of a man bending over him. He pressed back, ready to come up fighting.

“Whoa!” The figure straightened with hands held up. “I’m just waking my sister.”

As his head cleared of sleep, he recognized Allison’s brother in the faint glow of dawn coming through the windows. He looked about, disoriented. The last thing he remembered was sitting on the settee listening to the sleepy murmur of Allison’s voice as she tried to distract him from worrying. They must have fallen asleep. She stirred on the narrow cushion, her back moving against his front. His body responded to the accidental caress, and he tightened his arm about her to hold her still.

“You know, our guests usually sleep in their rooms,” Adrian told him.

“I was waiting for a call.” Scott glanced toward the phone. It remained as silent as it had all night.

“Adrian?” Allison mumbled, and Sadie’s tail thumped against the floor.

“Yeah, it’s me.” The brother’s voice softened with affection. “Time for work, kiddo.”

“Too early,” she groused and snuggled closer to Scott.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed at Scott before he looked back at his sister. “Actually, you’ve overslept. It’s six o’clock.”

“Six o’clock!” She tried to sit and elbowed Scott in the gut. “Why’d you let me sleep so late?” Pushing her hair off her forehead, she glanced around. Her eyes widened with surprise when she realized she was in the parlor. “Oh.” She turned and stared at Scott, and he wondered if she could feel the erection pressing against her bottom. Although how could she not?

“Hi.” He managed a lopsided smile.

“Hi.” She blushed.

Glaring at Scott, Adrian gathered the empty wine bottle and glasses from the coffee table. “I’d tell you two to take your time, but the other guests will start coming down for breakfast soon. Sadie, you come with me.”

Sadie scrambled up to follow Adrian out the door.

“I guess we fell asleep,” she said as they both sat and straightened their clothes.

“Guess so.”

“Chloe never called?”

“Not yet.”

She glanced around, looking a bit disoriented. “Do you want any coffee?”

“I’d kill for a cup of coffee,” he said, longing for a shower as well.

“Adrian’s probably already put some out upstairs.”

“I’ll be sure and check it for arsenic before I drink any.” Standing, he stretched his back, then cringed when his muscles announced their opinion of the sleeping arrangements. “Oh man, if you’re thinking about renting the sofa to guests, I wouldn’t.”

“It’s not something we normally do.” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

He held out a hand and helped her stand. “Thanks for sitting up with me last night.”

She nodded. “If you want to take a shower and get some rest, I’ll listen for the phone.”

“Shower, yes, but I don’t think I could go back to sleep. I will wait in my room, though, so the other