Luring a Lady by Nora Roberts Page B

to watch you when you do,” he murmured. “I want to know what’s there.”
    â€œThere’s nothing there.”
    But his mouth closed over hers and proved her a liar. She fell into the kiss, one hand lost in his hair, the other clamped on his shoulder.
    She felt everything. Everything. And it all moved too fast. Her mind seemed to dim until she could barely hear the clatter and bustle of the bar. But she felt his mouth angle over hers, his teeth nip, his tongue seduce.
    Whatever she was doing to him, he was doing to her. He knew it. He saw it in the way her eyes glazed before they closed, felt it in the hot, ready passion of her lips. It was supposed to soothe his ego, prove a point. But it did neither.
    It only left him aching.
    â€œSorry to break this up.” The waitress slapped two frosted mugs on the table. “Steak’s on its way.”
    Sydney jerked her head back. His arms were still around her, though his grip had loosened. And she, she was plastered against him. Her body molded to his as they sat in a booth in a public place. Shame and fury battled for supremacy as she yanked herself away.
    â€œThat was a despicable thing to do.”
    He shrugged and picked up his beer. “I didn’t do it alone.” Over the foam, his eyes sharpened. “Not this time, or last time.”
    â€œLast time, you…”
    â€œWhat?”
    Sydney lifted her mug and sipped gingerly. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
    He wanted to argue, even started to, but there was a sheen of hurt in her eyes that baffled him. He didn’t mind making her angry. Hell, he enjoyed it. But he didn’t know what he’d done to make her hurt. He waited until the waitress had set the steaks in front of them.
    â€œYou’ve had a rough day,” he said so kindly Sydney gasped. “I don’t mean to make it worse.”
    â€œIt’s…” She struggled with a response. “It’s been a rough day all around. Let’s just put it behind us.”
    â€œDone.” Smiling, he handed her a knife and fork. “Eat your dinner. We’ll have a truce.”
    â€œGood.” She discovered she had an appetite after all.

C HAPTER F IVE
    S ydney didn’t know how Mildred Wolburg’s accident had leaked to the press, but by Tuesday afternoon her office was flooded with calls from reporters. A few of the more enterprising staked out the lobby of the Hayward Building and cornered her when she left for the day.
    By Wednesday rumors were flying around the offices that Hayward was facing a multimillion-dollar suit, and Sydney had several unhappy board members on her hands. The consensus was that by assuming responsibility for Mrs. Wolburg’s medical expenses, Sydney had admitted Hayward’s neglect and had set the company up for a large public settlement.
    It was bad press, and bad business.
    Knowing no route but the direct one, Sydney prepared a statement for the press and agreed to an emergency board meeting. By Friday, she thought as she walked into the hospital, she would know if she would remain in charge of Hayward or whether her position would be whittled down to figurehead.
    Carrying a stack of paperbacks in one hand and a potted plant in the other, Sydney paused outside of Mrs. Wolburg’s room. Because it was Sydney’s third visit since the accident, she knew the widowwasn’t likely to be alone. Invariably, friends and family streamed in and out during visiting hours. This time she saw Mikhail, Keely and two of Mrs. Wolburg’s children.
    Mikhail spotted her as Sydney was debating whether to slip out again and leave the books and plant she’d brought at the nurse’s station.
    â€œYou have more company, Mrs. Wolburg.”
    â€œSydney.” The widow’s eyes brightened behind her thick lenses. “More books.”
    â€œYour grandson told me you liked to read.” Feeling awkward, she set the books on the table