“Solway, you are such a dolt.”
He nodded. “I know. Heaven help me, I know.”
Her chin was still raised in challenge as the serious look on her face melted into a smile. “When am I to get my naughty kiss?”
Chapter Nine
Miranda had topinch the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing because Solway, this big, stern duke, appeared utterly bemused. She hoped he was not alarmed and regretting that he’d gotten himself into something more than he’d expected because she had just accepted his challenge.
Would he now beg off?
She meant to hold him to his word. He’d said he wanted to kiss her indecently, and she was all for it.
Was it not time to dismantle that protective wall of ice she had built around her heart? Having erected that wall and ensured every block she’d piled on it was frozen solid and impenetrable by any man, she had since resigned herself to living a cold and empty existence for these past fifteen years.
Indeed, cold and empty for the rest of her life.
Of course, as a wealthy widow, she could have taken on lovers. So many in thetondid this very thing, and there were plenty of fortune hunters offering her their services. She had not been in the least tempted, not even felt a smidgeon of desire for any man, until Solway had come along.
Her heart fluttered wildly every time he drew near. And since they were traveling together, he was always near.
Perhaps it was a question of trust, for she had never trusted any of her supposed suitors.
But Solway? He made her feel safe. He made her feel desired.
She was so afraid to believe him, and yet she did.
Was it not logical that he should be the perfect choice tothawher icy barricades?
He was a big, growling bear of a man and she was wildly attracted to his ruggedness. He was not smooth with the ladies, not at all an accomplished rake, but this was what she liked best about him.
What you got with him was raw, primal man. No pretense. Just hot, male beast. And honesty.
Perhaps a little too much honesty.
He did not need to tell her what parts of her body would be affected by his next kiss because she was already feeling the heat of his first in the most improper places.
He hadn’t just kissed her. He had ravaged her soul with that kiss.
And now he was casting her hot, savage glances.
Or was she the one casting those glances at him?
Good gracious, they needed to get out of here before this got out of hand. “I’ll take these,” she said, having no idea which titles she had just grabbed off the shelves.
He took them from her hands and then smiled entirely too smugly. “Ye must love this one very much if ye wish to buy two.”
She glanced down at the books and groaned. Indeed, she had grabbed two of theStitching with Woolbooks. “Ah…um, yes. It is an utterly fascinating read. I thought I would purchase this second one as a gift for a friend.”
That smug smile stretched wider across his face. “Ye must have some very exciting friends.”
“Yes, our knitting circle can be quite provocative,” she insisted, and then grabbed a third copy before she hurried to the counter, eager to pay for her purchases and leave.
Gwenys soon joined them with the books she had selected. Solway insisted on paying for them all, arching an eyebrow inwarning when Miranda dipped her hand into her reticule to withdraw her coin purse. “Do no’ even think of it,” he said with a soft growl that had her heart in flutters again.
Sighing, she pulled the drawstring on her reticule tight again.
Gwenys just assumed he would pay for her selections and had made no attempt whatsoever to reach into her own reticule.
