Logic would prevail.She would be strong, she reminded herself.
“Why?”
“This is a very important matter, and I want to witness your first reaction.”
“And we need to be under a tree for that?”
“Yes.We do.Right, then.”He cleared his throat and took a step back while her spine closed in on the trunk of the tree behind her.“I saw you with that pink book last night and figured I could help.”
A furious blush rushed to her face.Of all the…“I’m a lady.Not a mistress.”How could he even possibly think to suggest such a relationship?How had she so misjudged him, to think him kind, protective?Well.He had a different view of protector than she did.
“Wait.No.What I mean is that I can answer any of your questions.”A bucket of cold water splashed down on her, soaking her fury.
Questions.All of the questions that had been incessantly raining down on her since last night.In a flash it felt like he could read her mind.But she didn’t want to admit that.
“I don’t have any questions.”
“I think you do.”
“I have no questions.Especially for you.”There was disdain dripping from her words, and she didn’t care to hide it.
“I really wish you hadn’t overheard what Lynette said to me.”He shook his head, and she almost felt bad for him until she realized what he had said.
“So you wish I had just gone inside then?”
“Of course.”
“So that I couldn’t eavesdrop on a conversation you were having with a paramour?”
“Yes.”
And she hated herself for the sting in her heart.She shouldn’t be grappling with these emotions.Hanging onto his coattails as if she had any right to them.
“I see how I quite ruined the mood for you two—”
“Wait.That’s not what I meant.She’s not…I j-just…you know what I mean.”
“For a rake, you’re not very fluid with your words.I’d have thought you would have been smoother.”
His eyes narrowed at that challenge and some strange sensation flapped within her belly.His eyes turned dark.And there was a charge in the air.Like that feeling before lightning strikes.She should be afraid of being struck, but she was fully curious of his response, despite her vexation with him.
“First of all, fluid is my second nature.Second of all—I don’t need to defend myself to you.”Fully exasperated at her curiosity, he blinked hard and dragged a hand down his face.Then he twisted the glimmering ring on his pinky finger.
“Why would I take advice from a rake such as yourself then?”And why was she even pushing this point except that she felt rattled and shook and she wanted to rattle and shake him, too.
“By my troth, I’ll give you expert advice.”He brought the pads of two fingers to his mouth, kissed them, and raised them with a slight flourish into the air.
“Your words and gesture are an amalgamation of mockery and solemnity.”
“I live no other way.”
In evaluation of him, she paused, focusing in on his eyes.It could be said that they were twinkling.Or it could be said that they were pulling her in.And she did want answers.Having his rakish behavior was perhaps then a blessing and a curse, for it simultaneously pushed her away and credited him enough to draw her into needing him.
“And you’ll be honest in your answers?”
“As much as I can be.”
“What does that mean?”
