Page 16 of This Marquess of Mine

His voice was low but light, his big body dwarfing the already crowded space and self-preservation had her shifting away from him, as far as the little corner would allow.

“Are you, indeed?” she asked mildly, picking up a fan painted with purple pansies. “I wouldn’t know. You’ve certainly never tried to charm me.”

He cocked his head to one side, slipping his hands in his pockets. “Would you want me to?”

Yes.

The word teetered on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it whole. And then she lied. “Of course not,” she said, studying the fan with feigned interest. “And, anyway, it would be an exercise in futility. I am immune to your charms.”

She could feel his eyes on her, a whisper of awareness prickling at the nape of her neck, and she forced her chin up to meet his gaze.

He arched one brow and a smile toyed with the corners of his lips as his gaze dipped to her mouth. “I think we both know that isn’t true, Olivia.”

She stiffened as his meaning sank in, and embarrassment followed, flooding her face with heat. He was thinking of last December, of her moment of weakness beneath the mistletoe, and was using it against her. Awful man.

“Pardon me,” she said faintly, her throat suddenly very dry. “I need to look at the earrings again. The blue ones. Paxton is sure to adore them. He does like to see me in blue.”

She brushed past him, biting her tongue lest it try to run away from her completely.

Her skin prickled beneath the weight of his stare, delving, distracting, and more than a little perplexing. Just like the man.

She reached the earrings display and, with her head down, inhaled a deep, calming breath. Being around Griffin should not be this difficult. All she had to do was act as if he meant nothing to her, as if everything was as it used to be, but all it took was one allusion to that night in December and her composure crumbled like dried rose petals.

Avoidance. That was the answer. She must avoid him as much as possible. Speak only when spoken to, display nothing but cordiality, and avoid, avoid, avoid.

How difficult could it possibly be?