Quiet Walks the Tiger - By Heather Graham Page 0,36

would have to be good. Looking tentatively at Wesley, she shivered and her eyes fluttered closed. Think! she told herself. She had everything at stake in the next few minutes.

“Please, tell me what’s wrong,” he persisted, and she chanced another glance into his probing jade orbs. He had gentled, his voice had become the kind one she was accustomed to hearing.

Taking a few deep breaths, she decided she could almost be honest. Looking straight into her brandy, she plunged ahead with a shy, very convincing explanation for her behavior which bordered on truth.

“I’m frightened, Wesley. I don’t know what impression I give, but I’ve been alone for a long time.” She knew she was blushing profusely. “The only man I’ve ever known was Terry, and—well, we were married. I know that sounds ridiculously old-fashioned, but...”

Wesley emitted a strangled sound, and Sloan glanced at him, cringing, fearing she had pushed his patience too far. But he was no longer angry, he was chuckling.

“What’s so funny?” she queried with piqued exasperation.

“Nothing, darling, nothing,” he assured her. He sat beside her again, ran his fingers through his dark hair, and took her hand to idly massage her fingers. “I don’t think you’re ridiculously old-fashioned. I’m kind of glad. I’d be insanely jealous if I had to learn about your other lovers. I’m even jealous of Terry, although God knows I can’t begrudge the man a thing. He had heaven on earth and he had to lose it.” His eyes met hers. “I laughed because you had me frightened too. I thought you might have a serious hang-up about me. If marriage is important to you before making a sexual commitment, I can honor that. That is”—he chuckled again, the throaty sound that was deep and endearing—“as long as you are sure that you do want me when we are married and as long as we do hurry with the wedding!”

Sloan stared at him with wide, blank eyes. “I do want you, Wes, I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another human being.”

“I’m all yours, darling,” he swore, with a light kiss on her forehead. “But I’d better get you home, because I want you to be all mine. All of you,” he added, running a finger along the flesh of her bare arm. “Every delightful inch!” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Just one week...”

Sloan continued to shiver all the way home. Just one week. Then it would be pay-up time. And she had the strange feeling that, once she had legally sold herself to Wesley Adams, there would be no backing down.

Ever again.

CHAPTER SIX

SLOAN CALLED IN LATE on Monday morning, and within an hour she and Wesley had filled in all the necessary papers and taken blood tests. Wes suggested they stop for a bite to eat before she went in to work as there were a few things he wanted to discuss.

“I’ve got to drive home for a few days,” he told her as he folded his menu and handed it to the waitress. At her look of surprise he continued, “We’ll be going on a honeymoon. I need to cover myself and get back to Kentucky and check with my brother on the farm. I also want to tell him about us firsthand and talk him and my sister-in-law into coming up for the wedding.”

Sloan was startled. She had almost forgotten that Wes had another home and a family. “When are you leaving?” she asked unhappily. She was surprised at how it hurt to know they’d be parted. In a short time, Wes had come to pleasantly dominate her life, and she hadn’t even realized it.

“Today,” he replied with a cross between a smile and a leer. “I won’t be back until Friday, which is probably best for both of us! I won’t be trying to attack you every night, and you won’t have to worry about fighting me off!”

“Oh, Wes!” Sloan murmured miserably.

“Hey! I’m teasing!” He chuckled, tenderly lifting her chin. “I have to take care of this now, though, because I don’t want to worry about anything after the wedding. Where would you like to go?”

“Pardon?”

“Our honeymoon, darling,” he said with a patient grin. “Is there anywhere particular you’d like to go?”

“Ah—no,” Sloan stammered. She hadn’t even thought about a honeymoon. In fact, she hadn’t really thought about anything beyond the wedding.

“Then I have a suggestion. I have a friend who recently bought a hotel just outside of Brussels. He swears it’s one of the most