Page 28 of This Marquess of Mine

Because she didn’t care.

“She’ll try again,” Griffin said with a shrug, apparently unconcerned.

Olivia’s lips quirked. “You seem very certain of that.”

His smile was his only reply.

She rolled her eyes at his cockiness, but she had to admit, to herself at least, that he was probably right. Griffin was an attractive man, and women wanted him. There was no point in denying it.

Of course, she saw no need to agree with him, either. He was arrogant enough already.

“Well,” she said, “I suppose I had best return to the party now. This was more than enough excitement for one evening.” She took a step to leave then stilled and turned to face him again. “About what you overheard earlier…”

His gaze met hers.

“Please don’t mention it to anyone.”

He nodded once. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you, Griffin.”

She turned to leave again, eager now to leave and return to the warmth of the house. She started up the path and had taken just three steps when Griffin’s low voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Paxton is a fool.”

Olivia’s eyes fell closed and she swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. “No. I’m the fool,” she said. “I thought if I lured him out here amongst the roses and the moonlight, he would finally kiss me and then maybe he would finally ask me to—” She broke off with a shake of her head and wrapped her hands around her chilled upper arms. “But it was a silly thought.”

She only hoped it hadn’t erased the progress she’d made with him these last few months.

Griffin moved behind her, the crunch of his footsteps growing louder as he neared, and then his evening coat draped over her shoulders, his warmth, his scent, wrapping around her like an embrace.

“You’re not a fool, Olivia.” His voice was low, comforting in its conviction. “Paxton is not the sort of man to appreciate boldness in a woman. Not with his mother like she is.”

Her lips tipped up in a self-deprecating smile. “Or perhaps he simply did not wish to kiss me.”

“Bollocks.”

She shook her head. “Maybe I misread his feelings. Maybe he is not attracted to me.”

“Impossible.”

She huffed out a humorless laugh and turned to face him, gripping the ends of his coat in one hand. “I don’t know how you can say that when just the idea of kissing me horrified you.”

His jaw flexed. “That isn’t true.”

“You know it is. I saw the expression on your face, the disgust—” Her throat caught as the memory of that night besieged her mind, the censure in his eyes, the coldness of his voice. The scornful words that had cut her to the quick.

Silly, shallow flirt.

She’d indulged that night on too much mulled wine, and it had made her brave. And she’d been burned for it.

“Anyhow, none of that matters now, does it?” She forced a small smile. “It was a silly mistake, and you can rest assured it will not be repeated. I know what you think of me, Griffin, and I—”

Her breath stuttered as his hands shot out and hauled her in by the lapels of his coat, his jaw like granite, his eyes ablaze. “You know nothing.”

Olivia’s heart gave a wild, incandescent leap.

And then his mouth was on hers, his lips shaping, claiming, and her mind went utterly blank. This was no tender kiss, no tentative meeting of mouths. It was nothing at all like her previous kisses.