A Scandalous Melody by Linda Conrad Page A

terribly important. But his strong hands took her by the shoulders and kept her facing the other way.
    â€œStay still,” he ordered softly. “I’ll take care of the zipper. But you need to hold your hair out of the way.”
    He took his hands off her shoulders but remained close enough that his breath blew warmth across her chilled skin. How could she be both cold and too hot at the same time?
    Wishing this part of the evening would hurry up and be over so Chase would finally take her to bed, Kate did as he requested. With jerky movements, she managed to lift her hair and hold it off her neck.
    â€œSweet,” he murmured in her ear. His voice ran along her nerve endings, stirring her senses and arousing her desire.
    The soft music of the zipper being lowered sounded for all the world like summer insects buzzing far off in the deep swamp. She felt light-headed and achy as the satin material of the black dress whispered against her skin, slid past her hips and pooled on the floor.
    She stood perfectly still, naked save for her strapless bra and bikini panties, and prayed for Chase to touch her. His breathing was loud enough and ragged enough from behind her to let her know he was there and watching her. She felt his gaze, roaming over her, making the heat spike through her body.
    Her own breathing became labored and shallow, echoing in her ears, while the sensation of being touched with just his eyes made her wet and ready for him. But he did not put his hands on her again.
    She eased around, ready to make the first move toward kissing him if necessary. But Chase was not behind her. Only twitching shadows of firelight filled the space with empty echoes.
    â€œChase?”
    â€œGame’s over.” His raspy voice came from the darkened doorway at the other side of the room. “You won. Shelby and the baby can stay.”
    â€œBut, Chase…” She turned to see his silhouette.
    â€œThere’s room enough in this old plantation house for everyone. I’ll be moving in tomorrow.”
    â€œInto my bedroom?” She held her breath, waiting for an answer.
    â€œWe’ll see,” he said roughly. “I may not wish to sleep with old ghosts.”
    â€œWhat about tonight, Chase?”
    â€œGo to bed. I’ve grown tired of the game. Good evening, Kate.”
    Through the low light dancing from the candles and fireplace, she watched as he turned his back and left the room. Choking back a sob, Kate sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her waist.
    He hadn’t been turned on by her as she had been for him. Oh, Lord. Living in the same house but not sleeping with him was going to be a much worse punishment than being thrown out of her own home would’ve been. He couldn’t have found a more perfect way to take revenge.
    And the thing was…nothing that he’d done or could ever do would make her love die. She was doomed to a lifetime of misery, wishing for things to be different.
    Â 
    Chase eased onto a bar stool at the smoky roadhouse tavern, leaned his elbows on the broad mahogany bar and ordered a bottle of bourbon. It was almost closing time, but he figured the bottle could easily go with him when they kicked him out. He imagined they would have to call a cab for him—because he fully intended to get rip-roaring drunk before they closed the doors.
    Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to close his mind to the picture of Kate standing there in front of the fireplace in nothing but two pieces of black lace. Her scentwas still in his nostrils. The heat from her back still burned his knuckles.
    He wasn’t sure he would be able to stick with his plan and stay here in Bayou City while he made a decision on the mill. Every time he looked at Kate he wanted to taste her.
    Even from the distance of ten years he remembered the flavor of the tender skin at the back of her neck. Remembered the spun honey of her dusky nipples, puckering under the ministrations