Three long-legged steps later, he set her down, yet by God’s good grace, he did not move away. Nor did she. They stood toe to toe, breath mingling, his hands yet on her arms. His sleep-tousled hair for once as loose as hers. Promise, desire, need ... all glimmered in his eyes.
And then his gaze flicked to her lips.
“Ami?” he whispered, a thousand questions in her name.
All she had to do was rise up. Murmur a yes. Claim his offeringand feel what it was like to have that fine strong mouth pressed against hers.
A wave of yearning crashed over her, so strong it terrified her. Her! The Shadow Broker. The fearless buyer of stolen goods. Sucking in a breath, she pulled from his touch, thoroughly shaken by the effect this man had on her.
She lifted her chin defiantly. “Thank you, but I’m sure that after picking up a few more pieces of that glass, I could have safely made it through without a scratch.”
One of his brows arched. “And yet you never answered me as to how you came to be here in the first place. Why are you roaming the halls of Price House instead of tucked safely in your own bed?”
“Violet had a night terror. I thought to wake Barnaby to summon her maid.”
He cocked his head, suspicion flashing in his gaze. “Surely you know the butler’s quarters would not be on this floor.”
“Of course, but I got a little sidetracked.” She pulled out the fragments of curved metal from her pocket. “I found these on the carpet, one part in the west wing, the other at the entrance to this one. And I thought I saw a figure leaving Violet’s room shortly after her first scream.”
He glanced from the pieces to her. “Who do you think it was?”
“I don’t know. I was too preoccupied with Miss Woolsey.”
“Hmm. Clearly something is afoot.” He gathered the busted pieces of frame from her hand and slid them into a slit in his robe. “I’ll see you back to your chamber.”
Oh no, he wouldn’t. Her heart couldn’t take much more of this nighttime tryst. She shook her head. “I’m a big girl, Mr. Price, not given to flinching from shadows.”
“And yet I insist.” He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and set off down the corridor.
For several steps neither of them spoke, which was to her liking. She couldn’t string a sentence together without it unraveling.
“This terror of Miss Woolsey’s, what did it involve?”
“She claims she saw the Amulet of Death hovering near her draperies, which I highly doubt for I examined the area thoroughly. I’m sure it was nothing more than her mind overworking Mr. Fletcher’s story as she slept.”
His lips twisted into a smirk. “His tale was a bit much.”
“Indeed. He doesn’t seem like quite the right business partner for you.”
“Oh?” His gaze traveled her face as they walked. “And who would you choose for me?”
Anyone but that unstable fellow.She bit back the saucy retort. Still, it was a fair question, one she mulled over as they left the corridor for the expanse of the staircase landing. “I should think you’d need someone who is more unwavering. Someone discreet. A partner who is a truly hard worker.”
“Add in beautiful and you’ve got the job, for you are all those things.” He winked.
He was flirting, of course, but all the same she stowed the words away in her heart to revisit as she went to sleep. “I am already in your employ, Mr. Price.”
“One of my best business decisions. I may purchase another load of Egyptian antiquities just to keep you on.” He grinned, and in the soft moonlight drifting down from the dome window, she couldn’t imagine any man more handsome.
Bosh! Better not to wander down that lane of thinking. She gave herself a mental shake. “I thought you were heading to London, Mr. Price.”
“Please, I think we have moved beyond such formalities. Call me Edmund.” He patted her hand in the crook of his arm, his touch warm against her skin. “And I have a big town house in the city. A simple word to the renovators and the entire third floor would fit you and some crates very nicely.”
She stifled a snort. “I daresay Miss Woolsey would not approve of such an arrangement, nor would she appreciate me using your Christian name.”
“Miss Woolsey’s opinions matter naught to me.”
Pulling away, she faced him before they strode down the corridor to her room. The need to finally sort out his relationship with Violet pounded stronger with each beat of her heart. “May I ask you a personal question, Mr. Price?”
