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“Think tank.”
“Oh, right. I forgot.”
“I see the problem,” he said suddenly, his gaze holding hers like a mesmerist.
“Problem?”
“You said men don’t like it because you’re so smart.”
“I never said exactly that.”
“But it’s true, right?”
“Um…yes. I suppose.”
“You must talk circles around them…the poor clueless ones, I mean. They don’t stand a chance.”
“I like interesting conversation. What’s wrong with that?”
Now he focused his gaze on her mouth. It might have been her chin, but she was almost certain it was her lips. She bit the bottom one to keep it from trembling. “Quit staring.”
“Utterly impossible,” he said quietly. “You are a stunning woman.”
“Until I open my mouth. That’s what most people think. I tried being quiet and ladylike once, but it didn’t take.”
“Do I make you nervous, Bella?”
His wicked smile slid beneath her defenses and made her want things that were unwise. “Of course not,” she lied.
He reached out and took her hands in his. “Tell me about your novel,” he coaxed. “I’d love to hear about it. Truly.”
A lump in her throat made it difficult to speak. His gaze was warm and charming. Honest. Was he truly interested, or was this a ploy to win her trust? “I don’t want to.”
“Please.” He squeezed her fingers, conveying an intimacy she needed so badly it scared her.
She pulled away, wanting to stand up, but hampered by her injured foot. The only way to put distance between them was to fold her arms over her chest. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Now where have I heard that before?” he teased gently.
“Oh. Sorry.” She had called him out for using that same excuse. “Well, it’s probably a longshot. There are a million people out there writing books these days.”
“But they don’t have your brains and your passion for the time period.”
“Some of them do…”
“Bella…” The warning note in his voice told her it was time to come clean about her secret project.
“I’ve been working on a massive outline for ages. It’s going to be historical fiction with a strong romantic element.”
“Go on. Tell me more.”
“My main character is a commoner who bears the bastard child of a nobleman. She knows her only chance out of poverty and obscurity is to convince her lover that the son is brilliant and needs to be part of court somehow. Basically, she makes sure that the nobleman falls in love with his child. She doesn’t allow him to ignore the boy, so gradually a bond forms.”
“Fascinating.”
Bella searched his face. His comment appeared to be genuine. Still, it was difficult for her to take it at face value. “That’s all I’ve come up with so far,” she said abruptly. “You probably have work to do. I need to rest.”
Ian sat back in his chair and leaned it on two hind legs. “Why do you do that?”
