Page 15 of Bride By Committee

She released her breath in an irritated little sigh. “Kind of you to agree. Not that you have much choice.”

“You’d be surprised at what choices I have.”

Her head jerked upward, clipping his chin. “Do you really think you could have seduced me?” she demanded.

He rubbed his jaw. Served him right for being so arrogant. Not that it stopped him from further arrogance. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind.”

“I’m not that easy.”

“Neither am I.” He felt around until he found his coat and carefully returned it to her shoulders, tucking her close to his side once again. “I just know where that kiss was heading.”

“It was only a kiss,” she grumbled.

“Guess again.”

“Come on, Harry. You’re not being very practical about this. I’m not likely to be swept away by pure emotion and since we’re so much alike, neither are you. We’re too smart to get caught in that trap.”

He grinned. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Maybe you’ll convince one of us.”

“Will they rescue us soon?”

Apparently she’d decided to change the subject. An excellent option when you were losing the battle. Retreat and find an easier war to wage. “Not much longer now.” He dropped a kiss in the middle of her curls. “Try and relax. We’ll be out of here before you know it.”

“And then we’ll go our separate ways.”

“We’ll see.” A companionable silence fell between them, one he was reluctant to break. But there was a final issue they needed to clarify and it was past time he took care ofit.

“Madison? You know… It’s just occurred to me that we never introduced ourselves.” It wasn’t quite a lie, though close enough to make him uncomfortable. “I think I should tell you my full name. It’s Harry Jones.”

Silence.

“Jones,” he emphasized. “Ring any bells? As in the Jones from The Ten Principles of Love?”

More silence.

“Okay. Time for a bit of blunt honesty. Ihope this doesn’t tick you off, but… Bartholomew is my father.”

Still more silence.

He cleared his throat, hoping to find a way to salvage the situation. When he stopped and thought about it, it was ludicrous. The man who’d faced down owners and directors of multi-million-dollar corporations was intimidated by the prolonged silence of one highly practical, overly protective, claustrophobic, half-a-Sunflower. “I know I should have told you before this, but considering how nervous you were, Ididn’t want to make it worse.” Why didn’t she say anything? “Sweetheart?”

Her only response was a soft, delicate snore.

It took a few seconds for the truth to hit. When it did he shook his head. Damn. This couldn’t be good. The minute she learned his name, she was going to be furious. And he couldn’t blame her. He should have told her sooner. He might have, too, except for one small detail. He didn’t want her to learn his identity until after she’d formed an unbiased opinion ofhim.

Face it, Jones. The chances of Madison’s opinion of him being unbiased once she knew why he’d come was remote to nonexistent. He grimaced. In fact, the only one hundred percent certainty was that she’d never speak to him again.

Chapter Three

Principle 3: For the most perfect mating…

Take the time to explore all the senses

with your partner.

Madison came slowly awake, wincing at the stab of bright light and the sudden explosion of sound. What the heck was going on? It took a moment for her brain to kick in, but once it did, she shot upright, escaping Harry’s arms with telling haste. She stood poised in the middle of the elevator like a wild animal at bay, her eyes slow to adjust to the brilliant sunlight streaming in the car from the open door. Asmall crowd had gathered, staring with intense curiosity.

For some strange reason, she found herself turning toward Harry. But if she’d hoped for reassurance from that direction, her hopes were in vain. He still lounged on the floor, but instead of seeing the man who’d done his best to ease her fears, or even the man who’d kissed her with such passion, she discovered a creature who looked like nothing more than a huge, grumpy lion. Good heavens! Had she really chosen to sleep in his arms? If there had been any illumination at all, she’d have kept as far from him as possible.

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