Harlequin Desire January 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 Maisey Yates (sad books to read .txt) 📖

He wanted to take her words to heart, but somehow he knew that if he was laboring away at a nine-to-five job, or perhaps if his brother, Matt, was the one giving it, his father would be more inclined to take his money. The thought burned a hole in his heart.

He switched his attention to her other foot, and she winced. He looked down to see that she had a scrape along the side of her foot. “Those heels were the wrong size, weren’t they?”

She scrunched her nose. “A little bit. But it doesn’t help that I’ve been wearing heels all day.”

“Stay here.”

He returned with a wet washcloth and cleaned and bandaged her foot.

“First thing tomorrow, I’m going shopping for some sneakers and maybe some yoga pants.”

He laughed. “So you’re not the kind of girl who wears couture around the house?”

“I’m not the type of girl who wears couture outside the house. Much to my mother’s disappointment, I am a T-shirt-and-jeans type of girl.”

Exactly the type he liked. She pulled her feet back and slid closer to him. “Thank you for today. Singing in front of a real audience, that’s been a dream of mine. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really wanted to do and you made it happen.”

He shook his head. “You made it happen. With your voice, with your talent.”

She leaned closer to him.

“Is it okay if I kiss you?”

Had she really asked him that? “What guy in his right mind would say no to a question like that from a beautiful woman?”

She gave him a slow smile. “You think I’m beautiful?”

I think you’re freaking gorgeous.

He wasn’t going to let this moment go. He leaned forward and their lips crashed together.

* * *

Divya didn’t consider herself a sex goddess, but she was confident with her romantic experiences. Then came the kiss with Ethan.

She’d leaned into the kiss, fully intending to take charge. Except it wasn’t the usual tangle of tongues and lips. Ethan took his time tantalizing her lips, sucking on them gently, flicking his tongue and letting her breathe in the heady scent of his aftershave. Her core tingled with anticipation. She pushed her fingers into his hair, eager to deepen the kiss, to bring his mouth closer. She heard him groan, and hot desire flared deep inside her. She wanted him. Bad.

He broke the kiss. “This probably isn’t a good idea.”

That was not the reaction she’d been expecting. He leaned back. “It’s been quite a night,” he said gently.

What am I doing? Maybe it was the high from Café Underground that had made her throw all sense of propriety to the wind. Here was a nice man who had helped her out and she’d put him in an awkward position by asking to kiss him. How was he supposed to respond to that? “Sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you,” she said.

“I thought I kissed you,” he said, moving back on the couch so no part of their bodies was touching.

“Why did you kiss me if you thought it was a bad idea?”

“I…” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I…we both almost married other people today. It seems like a bad idea to jump into something new.”

It was as if someone had stuck a pin in her balloon. But she shouldn’t be surprised. Ethan was wealthy and good-looking and dated women who looked like Pooja. How could she possibly compare? Her dating history consisted of Indian men who were into her because she came from a highly desirable family. Ethan was the first man who focused on her and not what her family had to offer. Of course he was rejecting her.

“Well then, I guess we both better get to bed, the sun will be up soon.”

He nodded. “Good night, Divya.”

She stared at him for a beat. He looked down at his phone. Guess there was nothing left to say.

“Good night, Ethan.”

CHAPTER SIX

She spent a restless night, despite the silky sheets and firm bed. She woke up hot and frustrated and dreaming of the kiss with Ethan. She could’ve sworn he was attracted to her. They’d had that moment on the plane and then again in the alley, before they were interrupted. Why was he pretending like they weren’t hot for each other?

She took a long shower, slipped on jeans and a T-shirt, grabbed a light jacket and put on her heels from the wedding outfit. They hurt like hell but at least they fit. She mapped out the nearest athletic-shoe store. She peeked out of her room to see Ethan sitting at the bar. A room service cart sat in the middle of the room. So much for avoiding him.

“Good morning,” she said breezily. He was dressed in jeans and a baby blue polo that made his eyes look like the color of a cloudless sky. Her heart thumped loudly, but she ignored it.

He gave her a big smile and his eyes raked over her. Her stomach flipped.

“Good morning. I didn’t know when you’d be up, so I ordered you a bowl of fruit.”

She looked at the fruit and scrunched her nose. “Is there anything real to eat?” She picked up the phone and ordered eggs, pancakes and bacon on the side.

Ethan raised his brows. She gave him a challenging look. “Do you have a comment on my order?”

He shook his head and held up his hands. “I’m impressed. I don’t think I’ve met a woman who likes to eat a real breakfast.” He held out a piece of bacon from his own plate and she took the peace offering. She poured out a cup of coffee for herself. Yet another thing she loved abroad—coffee. She liked her masala chai and the instant whipped coffee in India, but there was something intoxicating about the smell of good brewed coffee.

“You’ve been hanging out with the wrong women.”

“I certainly have,” he muttered so quietly under his breath that Divya wondered if she’d heard it or imagined him saying it.

“So what’s