“We have more interesting conflicts,” he said with false lightness. “We must bill and coo.” Genova wanted to resist his warning and his deflection, but her courage failed her. She preferred to think of her cowardice as sensible caution.
“Only in public,” she said.
“I don’t remember that proviso.”
She looked at him over her fan. “Why would you want to bill and coo in private, my lord? We are nothing to each other.”
The smile was back, the wicked one that threatened impossible, mouthwatering delights. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“About the Mallorens…” She raised it deliberately as defense.
“About our attraction.”
“Ourpretendedattraction.”
“Our passion.”
“Our problem.”
“Our love.”
“Our war,” she retorted.
He laughed. “Very well, I will stageamor, and you will stage war, though I warn you, I lack experience in my role.”
She raised her brows in disbelief, and he said, “We’d need another word.”
“You won’t shock me, my lord. I know them all.”
“How interesting.”
She recognized that her retort, though true, had been unwise. It had given him a wrong impression.But at least he wouldn’t presume that he was dealing with a naive miss.
“So, let us plan war,” she said, “since that is unambiguous.”
“Is it? You will need provocation. Shall I let you find me in another woman’s bed?”
“It would give me cause,” she agreed, hating the thought. “But wouldn’t you end up at the altar?”
“Not if the lady was married.”
She was caught unawares by that. “Then at sword’s point with her husband? I’ll have no blood spilled over this, my lord. I must have your word on that.”
“Must,” he echoed. “You have a too commanding disposition, Miss Smith.”
“You’re probably correct, but I mean what I say. I will not be a cause of bloodshed. Youmustavoid that.”
He sighed and held out a hand. “Come here.”
Her heart thumped. “Why?”
“To pay your forfeit.”
“I agreed to no forfeit.”
“Even so.”
She licked her lips, knowing she should ignore him, should rise and walk away, but it was as if she was snared—by the exhilaration of the fight, by the razor-edge of danger, by him. She knew she’d taunted him, hoping for something like this.
