Yield to Me (23 page)

He was actually making excuses for
her mother? Her ears burned hearing the truth on his lips. She jumped off the
sofa with a sob, rushing to the French doors and opening them to capture a
breath of fresh air. From where she stood, she could hear soft music drifting
from the party, the subtle conversation and laughter of couples walking in the
garden.

“Is that what Jonathan’s
blackmailing you with? I want the truth, Sophie. As your father, you owe me
that.” His forceful tone indicated he was back to his old confident self again.

Wiping away the moisture on her
cheeks she stared into the darkness, wishing Brent was there to hold her. She
should be angry with both of them for their deception, but she wouldn’t give
back one moment of pleasure she’d found in Brent’s arms.

“Is it?” he persisted, breaking into
her thoughts. “Tell me.” She supposed the truth wouldn’t hurt now, even if it
didn’t alter the fact she was still going to marry Jonathan. She nodded slowly;
knowing once the words left her mouth there’d be no turning back.

“Jonathan told me the press would
have a field day if they found out what kind of woman you’d married. That it
was just the thing to end your political career and ruin your reputation. I
couldn’t let that happen.”

“And all he wanted in return for his
silence was you,” he stated sharply.

Sophie hesitated from responding.
“Yes.” Her gaze was drawn to a falling star as it streaked across the sky,
prompting her to make a wish to be back in Brent’s arms where she longed to be.
She leaned against the doorjamb, tilting her face into the gentle breeze,
wondering if she’d ever see him again.

Why did I have to go and fall in love with him?

Chapter 19

“I’ve heard enough.”

The deep familiar voice caused a
sharp gasp from Sophie. She spun around, her stomach fluttering wildly. The
low, angry timbre hadn’t come from her father; it was Brent’s furious gaze she
met as he swiveled around in the chair he’d been sitting in behind her father’s
desk.

He’d apparently been listening the
whole time! As shocked as she was she couldn’t disguise the pleasure of seeing
him again. He couldn’t seem to look away from her either; the hardness in his
eyes quickly thawing into
a sensual
warmth that caused
her pulse to leap with excitement. She wanted to run to him but wasn’t up to
explaining that kind of reaction to her father.

Taking advantage of her momentary
loss for words, Senator Adams quickly added, “Jonathan can’t hurt me, Sophie.
Do you think the public will hold me responsible for the way Ann turned out?
And if they do, then to hell with them! I’ve been thinking about retiring
lately.”

They were words, just words, and she
didn’t believe him. Politics was his whole way of life and had been for as long
as she could remember. It was in his blood.

“It doesn’t matter,” she insisted
softly, her tone pleading with them to understand. “Just because you know the
truth doesn’t change the fact I made a promise to Jonathan.” She met her
father’s angry expression. “How many times have I heard you say that no matter
what happens in life, when you give someone your word, you see it through
because integrity means everything?”

“Bah! Not to the likes of him!” the
senator roared, tossing his arms in the air and spinning around with obvious
frustration. He couldn’t win that argument with Sophie and they both knew it.
“You talk some sense into her, Brent.”

Her gaze swung to Brent as he slowly
rose and made his way toward her, her heart tightening with emotion at the tenderness
in his eyes. He was clearly prepared to win her over using a completely
different tactic. She braced herself.

“What about me, princess? Do you
honestly think I’m going to let Lord get you through blackmail?”

“You can’t stop me,” she said
unwisely, taking an uneasy step back.

“You think not?”

“Don’t come near me!”

He halted at her impassioned
declaration, his eyes narrowing on her, and Sophie couldn’t believe it was
going to be that easy. Then without further hesitation, he completed his
journey, promptly taking her by the shoulders and pulling her sharply against
his powerful length. He ignored her gasp of surprise. She was unable to ignore
the hardness of his body, or his warm, sensual scent. She felt desire building
in her belly.
Exquisite sensations flooding her senses.

Her gaze went to his firm lips with
the longing to kiss that sexy mouth until he forgot everything but her.

“You said you love me,” he reminded
her, in a whisper meant only for her ears. He wasn’t playing fair. Sophie
opened her mouth but before she could get a word out Brent kissed her, and she
knew she was lost. Nothing else mattered.

As soon as his lips touched hers,
she went a little mad. She wanted him to love her, all of her. He swallowed her
little whimpers of pleasure, tracing his tongue along the inside of her bottom
lip before finally mating with hers. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for
seven lonely days and nights.” He whispered against her mouth, before deepening
his kiss again.

The blood pounded in Sophie’s ears,
drowning out the noise of the party beyond the room. Everything became muted
except the beating of her heart against his, and the rush of excitement
exploding through her body. Her hands fell to his shoulders, her nails biting
into his jacket as her need escalated to match his. Her desire seemed to feed
his. His grip tightened as he brought her closer to his aroused body.

Her father’s discreet cough reminded
them they weren’t alone. Sophie was able to step back when Brent’s hands relaxed.
It wasn’t enough though; she could still feel the heat between them. She
breathed in their combined scent, filling her lungs with the heady combination
of sweetness and fire that kept her blood hot. Their gazes remained locked,
reflecting smoldering desire and unspoken promises.

Senator Adams broke the silence
first. “You’re not getting married tomorrow and that’s final,” he said firmly,
his expression turning red. “I won’t let you!” He made eye contact with Brent.
“If I’m forced to have you kidnapped again…”

“I’m a grown woman, Dad. I can
handle my own battles.” Her gaze never left Brent’s eyes. “Please understand,”
she pleaded softly.

“You’re going through with it then?”

With hot tears filling her eyes,
Sophie nodded reluctantly.

“If you’re determined to become a
martyr, I guess there’s nothing more to say.” His burning gaze shot to her
father, before saying in a tone that clearly revealed he didn’t care anymore.
“I’m done here.”

A martyr! Sophie had never thought
of herself in that way but before she could deny it, Brent pivoted, striding
briskly from the room and out of her life, taking her heart with him. The soft
click of the door closing behind him seemed over loud in the silence of the
room, revealing the level of control he asserted. Sophie wanted to cry out for
him to come back, facing her unusually quiet father instead.

He looked like a mad bull getting ready
to explode. His mouth had formed into a straight line of anger turning his lips
white. She couldn’t recall ever seeing him that angry with her.

“Dad…”

“Normally I wouldn’t interfere in
your life but you’ve made a terrible mistake, young lady. Furthermore, you’re
way out of your league. Once he realizes I can and will send him to prison
he’ll leave town with his tail tucked between his legs.”

“But…”

“No buts, Sophie.” He opened the
door to leave, halting in the threshold to make sure he had her full attention.
“You and Brent love each other. Don’t bother denying it; I can see it in your
eyes. And you’re a fool if you don’t go after him!”

Sophie didn’t bother denying the
truth, her father was right, though Brent hadn’t exactly professed his love for
her. Still, she knew he wanted her; at least he did.

Now even that was questionable.

* * * *

After spending a sleepless night
tossing and turning in the guestroom of her father’s mansion, Sophie sank down
into a wicker rocker on the balcony, staring out at the elaborate gardens as
the sun came up. Hours before she was supposed to dress for her wedding. She
hadn’t seen her father since he’d stormed out of his den the night before. He
knew she was there, though. She’d sent a servant with messages to both him and Jonathan
that she was done in for the night and didn’t want to be disturbed.

Thoughts of Brent had invaded her
short dreams and now her every waking moment; images of him walking out of her
life replayed over and over again. She’d awakened several times crying out his
name, then lay there agonizing over what she should do. Her father was right;
she was a fool for letting him go. And as soon as she got dressed she would
face Jonathan with her decision and then find Brent. She prayed he loved her
enough to forgive her.

A loud knock at the door interrupted
her silent musings. Sophie called out for them to enter, until remembering
she’d locked it the night before, worried Jonathan wouldn’t respect her wishes.
More than a little surprised that he had.
As she
walked through the bedroom she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the large
gold-framed mirror over the dresser. She was a wreck.

“Sophie, it’s me, dear, open up. I
have something to tell you.” She opened the door, standing back so her father
could enter. His worried gaze took in her rumpled condition, causing a deep
frown to appear between his eyes.

She braced herself for an attack,
recognizing the energized no-nonsense attitude cloaking him, knowing it would
all be erased once she told him her plans. “Good morning.”

He ignored her cheerful greeting,
getting right to the point of his visit. “There’s not going to be a wedding
today, at least not to Jonathan. That’s off, permanently,” he said in a
confident tone.

“But…”

He plowed right over her. “After I
left you last night I searched him out and we had a little talk, with me doing
most of the talking.” Sophie wondered what the strange little smile on his face
meant. “’Course, he wasn’t in any shape to do much more then listen. After that
I had the bastard arrested for blackmail.”

The smile softening her face was
genuine. For the first time in her adult life, she wasn’t angry over her
father’s interference. “Oh, Dad,” she breathed with relief, walking into his
open arms. “I’d planned on…”

“I can’t take all the credit, dear,”
he interrupted again, giving her a bear hug. “I think you should know Brent got
to him before I did. He apparently came prepared for action last night,” he
surprised her by saying. “By the time I arrived on the scene Jonathan was in no
shape to run, anywhere.”

“What do you mean?” she gasped.

“I thought Brent made himself clear
enough last night.”

Sophie held his gaze for a long time
trying to decipher his meaning, her mind going back to the events as they occurred.
Yes, she remembered the passion in Brent’s declaration that he wouldn’t let
Jonathan have her. He’d apparently come to the party with his own agenda, yet
he hadn’t stuck around to claim her when it was over.

“Now, if you stop wasting time, it’s
not too late to catch Brent before he leaves.”

Catch him? “What are you talking
about?”

“He’s about to take off for a trip
around the world. If you love him, go after him and work things out. I know he
loves you.”

Sophie’s heart skipped a beat. “He’s
never said so.” She wanted to believe he did though.

“Can you blame the man? The last
thing he practically heard out of your mouth last night was that you intended
to go through with your wedding to Jonathan. Under those circumstances, do you
think it would be easy telling you he loved you? Pride’s a strong emotion,
dear. Some men can’t get past it.”

Sophie felt a warm glow flow through
her from his words, beginning to realize that she and Brent just might have a
chance at happiness. “Women have pride too.”

“Sophie Margarita Adams!” he began
in exasperation, receiving a wide smile on her face that revealed she was purposely
baiting him. He calmed down, crossing his arms and raising a brow in an
expression that used to intimidate her.

“Where?” she asked impatiently,
heading toward the closet to change before it dawned on her that she didn’t
have anything to wear, thanks to her last minute decision to stay at her
father’s home. The gown from the night before was hardly appropriate but it was
better than showing up in her birthday suit.

“Where is he?”

“He’s at the marina.”

The marina?
She faltered as the old fear resurfaced. “I thought you said he was
getting ready to take off for a trip around the world.”

“On his boat,” he explained,
watching her closely. “He postponed his plans for a long vacation when I asked
him to, ah, help me out.” He made a show of glancing at his watch. “My
chauffeur is waiting. You might make it if you hurry.”