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He loosened his hold as he narrowed his stare on her pretty face. Slowly, his anger disappeared as confusion filled him once more. “You don’t remember, either?”
“Not much.” She licked her lips and swallowed noisily. “I recall waking up with you next to me... and not much more.”
“This is too coincidental,” he mumbled as anger filled him again, but for different reasons this time. “Miss Taylor, tell me truthfully. Had you been drinking at the ball last night?”
“No. I only had one glass of wine.”
“And I assume,” he kept his voice low, “that you are not accustomed to kissing men you don’t know?”
She gasped, and her eyes widened. “I amnotlike Jane. We are as different as night and day.”
Suddenly, Wayne heard Harold’s voice not far away and quickly released his hold on Regina’s wrist.
“Put a smile on your pretty face and pretend we are getting along,” he instructed before giving her one of his brilliant smiles. “And so,” he said, acting as if he were right in the middle of another conversation, “that is how my father came to own five jewelry stores in Britain.”
Wayne turned to greet Harold as he and the other four men took their seats. Harold’s gaze bounced between Wayne and Regina. He hoped she would appear normal for the earl’s sake.
“What did I miss?” Harold asked, looking toward the boxers.
“Both men are very good at what they do,” Regina said. “I’m glad I didn’t bet on anyone because, at this point in the match, I don’t know who will win.”
“Splendid.” Harold beamed, keeping his eyes on the boxers. “Matches like these are the best type.”
“Indeed, they are,” Wayne replied, pretending to be involved in the sport. Although he enjoyed the occasional boxing match, today’s event hadn’t interested him at all. Instead, it was the beauty sitting next to him with the impossible temper. She was a viper of the worst kind – so pretty and alluring but could strike at you at any given moment and injure one’s pride. It saddened him that he was her target.
As the boxing match continued, he tried to keep his attention on the boxers. However, as he relaxed, his gaze felt the magnetic pull, and he looked at her lovely face, especially her tempting mouth. She had been the perfect kisser. Usually, after kissing women, he didn’t ponder on it the next day, but Regina was different, and he wished his mind would close to everything that had happened while they were in the coach... what he recalled, anyway.
Wayne still wanted to believe he had been poisoned in some way, and now he wondered if Regina had, too. After all, she couldn’t remember much, either. If only there were a way to know if his feelings were because of the poison in his body or if his confused attraction toward her was real. Yet, why would Harold do that to Regina when he thought of her as a daughter?
Soon, the boxing match had ended, and Wayne was relieved. He didn’t know who had won. Thankfully, he hadn’t placed a bet on anyone. Obviously, he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to make any rash decisions.
The earl’s group walked outside and to their coaches. Harold moved with his so-called nephews but stopped and pointed to his own coach. “Regina, dear. I will be a moment longer, so you and Mr. Nichols can wait for me inside the vehicle.”
Wayne could see that Regina wanted to argue, but instead, she squared her shoulders and nodded. The footman assisted Regina inside, and Wayne climbed in behind her.
Silence lagged between them and grated on his nerves. Something had to be said, but what? He glanced out the window, wondering how long the earl would be gone. If Harold didn’t hurry, Wayne wasn’t sure what would happen between him and the beautiful woman sitting across from him. He wasn't sure how he would react if she kept looking at him with her curious silver-blue eyes.
* * *
REGINA NIBBLED LIGHTLYon her thumbnail, growing weary by the second of the endless disturbance in the air between her and Wayne. If he had been any other man under different circumstances, she would have concluded that her odd feelings were those of attraction. But because this was Wayne Nichols, she hadn’t known what could have possessed her to think of him in such a romantic way.
If he didn’t say something soon, she’d scream. Since their little discussion in the stadium, she had been rehashing in her mind every word he had said, and most of it confused her. He led her to believe that he hadn’t remembered much of last night, either. He had even said something about it beingtoo coincidental.Everything that had happened to her lately made her head pound with confusion, and she was tired of it.
Taking a deep breath for courage, she turned in the seat and faced him. He looked out the window, which gave her a moment to study his profile. He was certainly one handsome man. His dark hair was thick, but thankfully, it wasn’t long and unruly as some men she knew. Wayne’s wide chest and shoulders let her know how powerfully built he was. He was taller than most men she knew. Yet, she recalled how well she fit while in his arms.
“Mr. Nichols?” Her voice squeaked softly from not being used for a while.
He whipped his head around and looked at her. Surprise registered on his chiseled features. “Yes?”
“I need to know something.” She paused, putting her thoughts together. “Why did you say what you did about last night?”
His brows drew together in puzzlement. “What do you mean?”
She glanced down at her fingers as she absently played with the fringe on her shawl. “You mentioned something about not remembering the evening and that it was too coincidental. I would like for you to tell me what that all means.”
She slowly lifted her head and met his stare. He seemed very uneasy when his gaze switched from her to outside the window and then to the closed door of the coach.
He looked at her again. “Miss Taylor, I would like to discuss this with you, but,” his voice lowered, “this is not the right time nor place to talk about something so... personal.”
