Lucas continued. “Yes, but it was still safer forher.And, my friend, she was the one who needed protecting, not you,” he added.
Damn and blast, he was right, but that didn’t negate the fact that Lucas had used him.
“Why not tell me later then, when she was safely away?” he asked.
“Would it have mattered?” Lucas asked, swirling the remaining brandy in his glass.
Heathcliff opened his mouth, then closed it. “Yes.”
“Why?”
Because then I wouldn’t have kissed her, wouldn’t have been so curious about her history. I would have stayed away . . .“Because,” he answered inarticulately.
Lucas raised his brows, as if waiting for the rest of the explanation. It was bloody irritating having a friend who knew you so well.
When Heathcliff didn’t respond, Lucas helped himself to a chair and made himself comfortable. “You do realize that my wife is content to spend the entire day here, with her sister whom she’s been worried to distraction about, and I have nothing better to do than sit here and wait?” he threatened coolly.
“Damn you,” Heathcliff replied.
“So, my question remains.”
“Which one?” Heathcliff replied with heavy sarcasm as he took his seat behind his desk.
“The first. How much have you compromised her?” he asked, as if discussing the weather.
Heathcliff closed his eyes. “It was only a kiss.”
Lucas whistled under his breath. “And how long have you been in residence?”
Heathcliff opened his eyes and leaned forward. “Twenty-four hours.”
Lucas choked on the sip of brandy he’d just taken, and Heathcliff took sadistic pleasure in watching his friend’s much smaller, yet still satisfying, coughing fit.
When he recovered, he speared Heathcliff with a pointed look. “You didn’t waste time.”
“I’m not often accused of wasting time in any situation,” Heathcliff replied, leaning back.
“I suppose the question I should ask next, as her brother-in-law, is what type of kiss? And what are your intentions toward the girl?” Lucas leaned back, giving Heathcliff a hard, inquisitive glare.
“You’ll make a terrifying father one day, but I’m afraid your threats are ineffectual on me.” Heathcliff sighed. “It was enough of a kiss to cause me a hell of a difficult night’s sleep, and my intentions toward women in general have remained unchanged.”
Lucas nodded.
Then another thought ricocheted through Heathcliff’s mind.
She knew.
Bloody hell, Miss Miranda knew!
Was that even her real name? He expected not, which elevated his level of anger at the situation.
“Bloody hell.” He spat. “She knew!”
Women were deceitful, the lot of them. Innocent ones as well!
Lucas chuckled. “She did, but in her defense, I did request she not tell you anything.”
“Then I shall take my anger out on you.” Heathcliff glared.
