Bull scowled again.
Women were devious.
Gadding about, planning such shenanigans and chaos while looking so sweet and innocent?
Fook.
And she’d out-maneuvered him today. Aye, Bull’s instincts had been on high alert since the moment he’d been introduced toRobert Hoyle, but he hadn’t realized why until he’dheld him—herin his arms. He’d been so shocked, he’d missed the opportunity to chase down that art thief.
But the real issue was her ultimatum in his office.
She might not be the only one who could identify this mystery painter’s work…but she’d made it clear shewouldbe going to the scandalous art auction, and he’d be damned if he let her go alone.
Demon is going to kill ye.
Demon—Duke of Lickwick, he of the monstrous curses—could never learn the truth. He likely thought his daughter ensconced with her cousin, studying art or something. If he found out his precious Rosie had gone gallivanting around London attached to a mustache like that…or worse still, attended a scandalous ball and auction…
Bull shook his head.
It would be up tohimto make sure no hint of Rosie’s identity ever reached Society’s ears. To do that, they’dbothhave to be disguised.
The door to the apartment building slammed and the lad came running out. The second one joined him as they both arrived, breathless, at the side of the hack. “He’s in there, mister!” the older one said eagerly. “Went up to the third floor, second door on the left.”
Bull nodded, the coin glinting as he rolled it. “And did the door lock behind him?”
The lad, gaze caught by the coin once more, nodded eagerly. “I heard the lock myself, then I heard two women talking.”
Good. Bull felt himself sagging in relief to know that not only had Rosie made it home safely, but Merida was there as well. He was going to have his work cut out for him, making sure Rosie was safe.
For now, he flipped the coin to the lad, then a second he’d been hiding in his palm to the other lad. Both of them snatched the coins out of the air and ran off, shoving each other in some youthful rivalry. Bull shook his head, then called to the cabbie, “Home again, please.”
As the hack rattled on, he leaned back.
They were going to need a hell of a costume.
The thrum of adventure seemed to sing through Rosie’s veins as she tipped her head back to stare up at the window of Bull’s office on Friday.This was it!In a few hours, she’d be on her way to the masquerade ball and Madam Desiree‘s auction!
She was dressed in a drab, paint-covered smock and hideously outdated bonnet, the worn shawl wrapped around her shoulders doing little to keep out the chill. This morning, Merida had—quite rightly—pointed out that if she resurrected the Robert costume once more to travel to Bull’s office and someone noticed, they’d see a man entering the office and a woman leaving.
“Besides,” Meri had pointed out, “we were forced to throw out the mustache on Wednesday.”
That they had, and Rosie had scrubbed her lip raw trying to remove the glue they’d used to attach the damn thing. Asexhilarating as it had been to wear trousers—with pockets!—Rosie doubted she had a future intravestiroles.
Here we go.
She took a deep breath and marched up the steps. At Bull’s office she knocked, glanced up and down the hallway, and slipped inside?—
Only to stop short as she surprised Bull, who was stepping out from an interior door with a towel thrown over his shoulder, his shirt untucked and rolled up at the sleeves, and his hair wet.
Rosie’s eyes grew wide as she allowed her gaze to linger on the patch of skin at his throat. Was it getting warm in here? She absentmindedly kicked the door closed behind her, her tongue darting out over her lip.
Fooking hell, the man had delicious forearms, didn’t he? All ropey and muscley and—her gaze dropped to his waist, where for the first time, she could see his hips without the cover of a jacket. His hips, and a bulge. A growing bulge?—
“Ye’re early,” Bull growled brusquely, turning away from her.
But not before she’d understood what she was seeing. Rosie’s lips curled in delight.
“Yes, I am.” She shrugged out of her shawl, pretending a nonchalance she didn’t feel. Inside, her heart was thumping in excitement. He’d been aroused, merely by her looking at him?Excellent!
