Luring a Lady by Nora Roberts Page A

“And I was.”
    â€œYou’re doing what needs to be done. No one can ask for more than that.”
    She opened her eyes again, met his. “I don’t know.”
    They waited again, in silence.
    It was nearly two hours before Mrs. Wolburg’s frantic grandson rushed in. The entire story had to be told again before he hurried off to call the rest of his family.
    Four hours after they’d walked into Emergency, the doctor came out to fill them in.
    A fractured hip, a mild concussion. She would be moved to a room right after she’d finished in Recovery. Her age made the break serious, but her health helped balance that. Sydney left both her office and home numbers with the doctor and the grandson, requesting to be kept informed of Mrs. Wolburg’s condition.
    Unbearably weary in body and mind, Sydney walked out of the hospital.
    â€œYou need food,” Mikhail said.
    â€œWhat? No, really, I’m just tired.”
    Ignoring that, he grabbed her arm and pulled her down the street. “Why do you always say the opposite of what I say?”
    â€œI don’t.”
    â€œSee, you did it again. You need meat.”
    If she kept trying to drag her heels, he was going to pull her arm right out of the socket. Annoyed, she scrambled to keep pace. “What makes you think you know what I need?”
    â€œBecause I do.” He pulled up short at a light and she bumped intohim. Before he could stop it, his hand had lifted to touch her face. “God, you’re so beautiful.”
    While she blinked in surprise, he swore, scowled then dragged her into the street seconds before the light turned.
    â€œMaybe I’m not happy with you,” he went on, muttering to himself. “Maybe I think you’re a nuisance, and a snob, and—”
    â€œI am not a snob.”
    He said something vaguely familiar in his native language. Sydney’s chin set when she recalled the translation. “It is not bull. You’re the snob if you think I am just because I come from a different background.”
    He stopped, eyeing her with a mixture of distrust and interest. “Fine then, you won’t mind eating in here.” He yanked her into a noisy bar and grill. She found herself plopped down in a narrow booth with him, hip to hip.
    There were scents of meat cooking, onions frying, spilled beer, all overlaid with grease. Her mouth watered. “I said I wasn’t hungry.”
    â€œAnd I say you’re a snob, and a liar.”
    The color that stung her cheeks pleased him, but it didn’t last long enough. She leaned forward. “And would you like to know what I think of you?”
    Again he lifted a hand to touch her cheek. It was irresistible. “Yes, I would.”
    She was saved from finding a description in her suddenly murky brain by the waitress.
    â€œTwo steaks, medium rare, and two of what you’ve got on tap.”
    â€œI don’t like men to order for me,” Sydney said tightly.
    â€œThen you can order for me next time and we’ll be even.” Making himself comfortable, he tossed his arm over the back of the boothand stretched out his legs. “Why don’t you take off your jacket, Hayward? You’re hot.”
    â€œStop telling me what I am. And stop that, too.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œPlaying with my hair.”
    He grinned. “I was playing with your neck. I like your neck.” To prove it, he skimmed a finger down it again.
    She clamped her teeth on the delicious shudder that followed it down her spine. “I wish you’d move over.”
    â€œOkay.” He shifted closer. “Better?”
    Calm, she told herself. She would be calm. After a cleansing breath, she turned her head. “If you don’t…” And his lips brushed over hers, stopping the words and the thought behind them.
    â€œI want you to kiss me back.”
    She started to shake her head, but couldn’t manage it.
    â€œI want