Susan Johnson - Gorgeous As Sin (Berkley Sensation)

HIGHPRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF SUSAN JOHNSON

Johnsondelivers another fast, titillating read that overflows with sex scenes andrapid-fire dialogue.

PublishersWeekly

A spellbindingread and a lot of fun... Johnson takes sensuality to the edge, writingsmoldering stories with characters the reader wont want to leave.

TheOakland (MI) Press

Sensuallycharged writing... Johnson knows exactly what her devoted readers desire,and she delivers it with her usual flair. Booklist

Fascinating... The authors style is a pleasure to read.

LosAngeles Herald Examiner

Flat-outfabulous, sexy [novels] so textured they sometimes compare... to the phenomenalJudith Ivory.

AllAbout Romance

BerkleySensation Books by Susan Johnson

HOTPINK
HOT LEGS
HOT SPOT
FRENCH KISS
WINE TARTS, & SEX
HOT PROPERTY
GORGEOUS AS SIN

TWIN PEAKS
(with Jasmine Haynes)

THEBERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, OntarioM4P 2Y3, Canada
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division ofPenguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,Australia
(a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, NewDelhi110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand
(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank,Johannesburg 2196,
South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

Thisis a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are theproduct of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and anyresemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events,or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any controlover and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websitesor their content.

GORGEOUSAS SIN

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / March 2009

Copyright 2009 by Susan Johnson.

eISBN: 978-1-101-01182-9

BERKLEYSENSATION
Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY SENSATION and the B design are trademarks of PenguinGroup (USA) Inc.

http://us.penguingroup.com

Chapter1

London, August 1891

PROSPERHUTCHINSON, THE barrister of choice for Londons wealthy, rose from his chairto greet the tall, handsome aristocrat walking through his door. At last, YourGrace. Hed sent the duke a message five days ago.

Iwas in the country. The Duke of Groveland stripped off his tan riding glovesas he crossed the sumptuous Axminster carpet custom-made for the imposing corneroffice overlooking Piccadilly Square.

Yes,I know. The duke was entertaining his newest paramour while her husband wasshooting in Scotland. Everyone knew.

Aneasy smile graced the dukes fine features. Dont glower so, Hutchinson. Ieventually arrived, and admit ityour messages always smack of crisis.

Thiscrisis could cost you a fortune.

Howmuch of a fortune? George Montagu Fitz-Robbins Monckton calmly asked, tossinghis gloves on Hutchinsons large, ornate desk and taking a seat across from hisbarrister.

Ninetythousand. The portly barrister dropped into his chair with a grimace.

Theduke arrested his slide into a lounging pose, his dark brows rising faintly.That much.

Perhapsmore should your plans for Monckton Row come to naught because Mrs. St. Vincentwont sell.

Mrs.St. Vincent? A theatrical name ora smile quirked his lipsa female of acertain profession? Apparently over his initial surprise at the sum quoted byhis barrister, the duke unbuttoned his fawn-colored silk tweed jacket,stretched out his jodhpur-clad legs, and rested his head against the tuftedgreen leather some decorator had chosen for Hutchinsons office chairs.

Sheis rather a lady of a certain obstinacy, Your Grace, Prosper Hutchinsongrumbled, rapping his fingertips on his desktop to emphasize his displeasure.All the other properties east of Berkeley Square have been purchased, but withMrs. St. Vincent standing in your way, your ninety thousand is at risk. Thevery mulish lady has asserted that she has no intention of ever selling.She told me your grace may go to Hades for all she cares.

Shedid, did she? You spoke to her? As a rule, Hutchinson didnt take part inpurchase negotiations. He employed twenty barristers to take care of suchmatters.

Ihad to. Hutchinson leaned forward over his paunch to underscore his vexation.The troublesome female had flatly refused five of our offers. And Id sent myvery best men. The barrister picked up a gold filigreed letter opener, held itbetween his fingertips, and gazed at it for a moment, pursed lipped. Then helooked up, met the dukes languid gaze, and said ruefully, You might as wellhear it from me first, Your Grace. Apparently Mrs. St. Vincent disapproves ofIbelieve her words were Odious, prodigal scoundrels who think their titles andwealth give them carte blanche in the world.

Theduke looked amused. It seems the lady is of a socialist bent.

Irather think her remark was of a more personal nature. Grovelands reputationfor prodigality and dissipation was well known.

Sheisnt the first woman to disapprove of me, the duke casually returned, hisindifference to censure a marked trait. But a female whos not susceptible toyour bank draftsa note of drollery colored his wordsnow thats a first,isnt it, Hutchinson?

Yes,Your Grace. Grovelands female entanglements occasionally required thebarristers intercession to amiably end an affair. And to date, bank drafts hadalways proved effective.

So whatnow? A soft, unruffled query. In the dukes experience, the world generallybent to his will. It wasnt hubris, just a recognition of reality. He wasillustriously titled, the bearer of an enormous fortune, and for what it wasworthin matters of seduction more than anythingblessed with the Montagu darkgood looks.

Weare at an impasse unless you wish to increase your offer substantially. Ididnt feel I had the authority to do so without speaking to you and explainingthe unfortunate situation.

Thetwenty-third Duke of Groveland pursed his lips. Substantially you say.

Imafraid so, Your Grace. The woman is obstinate to a fare-thee-well and in myestimation outrageously so for someone in her circumstances.

Grovelandsgrey gaze turned razor sharp. What circumstances?

Herhusband left her all but destitute when he died. From all appearances she iseking out a living. She resides above the bookstore, which is a saving, ofcourse, but really, she should be exceedingly grateful for your generous offerrather than refusing it out of hand. Leaning back in his chair, Hutchinsonsoftly sighed. Women, Your Grace. Quite irrational creatures.

Nowthe duke knew women better than most. In fact he had outstripped all previousrecords apropos the number of females who had fallen prey to his charms. Andgentlemens clubs were partial to keeping such scores. Seduction was a majoramusement for Grovelandsome said... his avocation. It was only natural hewould say, Why dont you leave her to me, Hutchinson. I have had some luckwith convincing women to, ah... accommodate me.