Page 10 of Pure Seduction (Chamberlin Brothers 1)

“Mom?” Jake tugged me to a stop once we reached the food area back out in the tasting room. “Who was that?”

“Who was—”

“The man in the cellar stealing a bottle of wine?”

“Oh.” I pretended to straighten up the serving plates on the table. “That’s Noah. Bree’s brother.”

“No shit.”

“Jake, what have I told you about that mouth of yours? Keep it clean. Especially when in company, please.”

Jake shrugged it off and then looked over his shoulder as though he could see back into the kitchen. “He’s the one everyone talks about? The one who left and never came back—ever?”

I nodded, feeling slightly sick to my stomach. “That’s the one.”

“Huh. Maybe he was just waiting for Harry to die. He was kind of a dick.”

“Jake.” I looked around to make sure no one had heard my mouthy teenager. “Don’t talk like that about the dead.”

“Oh, come on, you know I’m right.”

“That doesn’t matter. Show some respect.”

“Okay. You’re right.” He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m sorry. I’ll show respect today and call him a dick tomorrow.”

I smirked as he straightened. “That’s better.”

“Okay. I’m gonna go find Caleb for a bit. Unless you need me to keep you from getting locked in any more wine cellars.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I wasn’t locked in there.”

“Uh huh.” He picked up a carrot stick and took a bite. “Man, where’s all the good food at? I figured there’d be more than veggies at the almighty Harry’s going-away shindig.”

Damn it. It wasn’t until right then that I realized I hadn’t put the extra quiches in the oven. Oh well, carrots and dip would have to do for the moment, because there was no way I was going to risk being caught in that kitchen or wine cellar again with Noah Chamberlin.

5

Noah

LAUREL ANDERSON, WOW. She sure had grown up nicely. Actually, that was a lie. The sweet, pretty girl I’d once known had grown into the most beautiful women I’d ever seen in my life—and I’d seen a lot of women.

In her perfectly respectable black dress and heels, I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her. Her hair was cut a little shorter than it used to be, with loose curls styled in a way that teased the soft skin under her chin. And those long legs that had seemed to go on for miles and miles even as a teenager? They were even more entrancing now, encased in those smoky-colored stockings. It’d been a couple of hours since our run-in, and I was still thinking about them, wondering if they were full coverage or thigh-highs with a garter belt to match.

It was completely inappropriate, I knew that, especially considering where I was and why. But damn, I was only human, and there’d been no stopping the instant attraction I’d felt the second I was back in her presence.

That was, until he opened the door. Whoever he was. I’d thought about asking Bree but immediately squashed the idea when I imagined the barrage of questions that would no doubt follow. I was already the latest gossip around town; the last thing I wanted was to add to that in any way. So that meant I was going to have to find out for myself, maybe just not tonight.

As I pulled into Wilhelmina’s Bed & Breakfast, I congratulated myself on somehow slipping out of the wake without detection, but I was pretty sure my mom would clue in soon enough. That was okay, though—it would be much easier to tell her I wasn’t planning to stay at the house if I was already booked to stay somewhere else.

I remembered this place, but not as it stood now. What had once been a dilapidated building—my brothers and I used to dare each other to spend the night there—had since had a major makeover. It now stood tall and proud, the way it was no doubt intended, and as I parked my car and climbed outside, I took a moment to appreciate what the new owners had done with the place.

Built in the 1800s, the picturesque three-story craftsman-style home was bordered with a wide balcony that wrapped around its entirety. There were rocking chairs on one side and a classic porch swing on the other, and flanking the entrance to the beautifully restored home were four thick columns that gave the place an authentic feel that you just couldn’t replicate.

I made my way through the immaculate grounds toward the front door, and when I stepped inside the lobby/seating area, I stopped dead in my tracks. Holy shit. It was hard to even remember what it had looked like pre-reno. The broken floorboards, the cobwebs so thick they could suffocate you if you ran into them. Not to mention the ghosts—well, according to Justin.

I took in the now polished floorboards and sweeping staircase that wound up the three flights, before glancing through the open pocket door to where there was a desk that I assumed was the check-in area. The furniture was all era-appropriate and looked comfortable and charming, and as I made my way to check-in, the strong scent of freshly brewed coffee and apple pie filled the air.

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