AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Leaning against the stone support at the end of the gates, he folded his arms. Next time he would have one of his men follow her. If she spotted him pursuing her, she’d be furious but he’d take her wrath if he could find out what she was doing and why she wanted to find out about this shipping company so badly.
When he peered up and down the road for sign of her carriage coming around front, he furrowed his brow and pushed away from the stone when he spotted a man lingering on the opposite side of the road.
That limp... He’d seen that limp at the docks. He moved swiftly after the man. The same floppy hat and the same gait. But why was he here—outside Cassie’s house?
Luke had been certain they were being watched by him but marked him as a man hoping to take some coin from them—most likely by nefarious means. They were some way from the docks, so he had little reason to be here, and even less reason to be spying on Cassie’s house.
He stalked down the road, pushing past pedestrians while trying to keep the hat in sight. He had speed on the man, but the traffic and people impeded Luke and by the time he crossed the road and received an earful from a speeding driver, he’d lost him.
Blast.
He looked around but caught no sign of the hat or the limp. Was he being paranoid? Was all this trying his darndest to look after Cassie driving him insane? It was certainly a possibility. There was scarcely a moment when he did not think about hauling her into his arms and taking that offered kiss. She’d also left him sleep-deprived and distracted. No wonder he could not think straight.
Sensation yanked at his gut and he cursed under his breath. He never doubted his gut and there was something strange about the chap, no matter how crazy Cassie had driven him. He swiveled onto his heel and headed back to her father’s house.
Aunt Sarah met him in the hallway again, the cat clutched in her arms as she beamed at Luke. “How good of you to grace us with your presence not once but twice! I do not doubt Cassie will be pleased—”
“Luke?” Cassie paused in the hallway, halfway through tugging on her gloves. She tilted her head. “What is it?”
He glanced at Aunt Sarah. “Might I have a private word?”
Aunt Sarah cupped the cat close. “Say no more. We shall be gone in a flash. Come, Simon, Luke desires aprivateword with Cassie.”
“Aunt Sarah,” Cassie protested. She blew out a breath as the door slammed shut behind her aunt. “She will make up a story about this, I guarantee it.”
“Will you tell me why you are seeking out the details of this business?” he demanded.
“I thought you trusted I had good reason.”
“I did until I saw someone watching the house.”
Her brows knitted. “Watching the house?”
He nodded. “The same man I saw at the docks.”
“Man you saw at the docks?” she repeated.
“And here I thought you prided yourself on your observational skills.”
“I have excellent observational skills, as you saw for yourself.”
“Well, I spied this man watching us last week and I saw him again as I left the house. I gave chase—”
“Luke, that could have been dangerous.”
He fixed her with a look. “I am entirely capable of looking after myself. But if you believe this chap to be dangerous, then I must conclude this business of yours is not so innocent after all.”
Which was putting it mildly, considering he was certain she had been the one to break into the solicitors.
“I am doing nothing wrong and I am certain it was a case of mistaken identity. After all, the poor man is allowed to come to this part of London, you know.”
He ground his teeth together. The woman was going to get herself into trouble—he could feel it. “Cassie, I demand you tell me what you are up to.”
“Demand?” Her eyes flared. “Luke, no matter what Anton has said to you, you are not my keeper, and you have no right to demand anything of me.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “I am not answerable to you.” Her chest rose and fell, hard and fast, as though fighting to keep her temper at bay.
She’d never looked so glorious in all her life.
Luke met her furious gaze, jaw still clenched. They were but a foot apart and it would be easy enough to grab her arms and try to kiss her into submission.
