Niles had countered by reminding her that he was not, and never would be, a gentleman. Lord, but that fact had come back to haunt him.
He’d never played the game with any other woman. The subsequent women he’d spent leisure time with would not have been interested in such entertainment.
Until today.
“Chess can also resemble a courtship.” A mysterious smile played on Eve’s lips. Her flirtation was having a dangerous effect on his libido. And his heart. Because he knew their dalliance was not a true courtship. He’d do well by himself to call it a fling. An affair. A temporary liaison.
“An opening bid.” He moved a pawn. What had his bid been with her? Holding her in the carriage? Kissing her beneath the trees? Or bringing her to satisfaction in bed this morning?
Her gaze teased him as she moved her queen across the board. “A counter.” She’d kissed him back, eagerly. And she’d admitted to not knowing how to conduct herself following such intimacy.
Did she want something more?
He moved his knight in position to take the lady. “Negotiation.” Was their time today a negotiation of sorts?
Could they have anything other than a brief affair?
She stole the knight with her bishop. Best not to want more from her. Had he learned nothing from Lady Katherine’s betrayal?
Niles then moved his other knight. “Checkmate.”
Eve had not seenhis attack coming. She’d thought she’d examined the board from all angles.
Niles cocked one eyebrow, appearing quite roguish. This day, rather than bringing any clarity to their situation, scrambled them all the more.
She liked him.
The attraction she felt had only managed to increase as the day slipped away. His eyes shone brighter, his smile held more charm… Each time they drew near to one another, the urge to lean into him, to feel his strength along the length of her body, was quite compelling.
Would she resist him for long?
“I remember why I gave the game up now,” she said, laughing.
“You played quite well.”
“A rematch in the future, then.” She didn’t catch herself before allowing the words to escape.
“I’d like that very much,” Niles responded noncommittally. Would he really, or was he simply being kind? She was his employer, after all, she reminded herself for the hundredth time that day.
“You don’t have to.”
But he’d reached across the board to take her hand in his. “Eve. This.” He waved his other hand between the two of them. “Is not business.”
No. It was not.
The day had passed almost without her notice. She’d been so intent upon this man. On the sensations he evoked each time he touched her, whether he’d taken her arm, or placed his hand upon the small of her back.
“I’ll leave you to celebrate your win while I dress for dinner.” The innkeeper’s wife had managed to locate something clean for Eve to change into. The dress, of course, wasn’t nearly as fine as any of Eve’s other gowns, but it was freshly washed and the right size.
She’d like to appear her best for him.
Niles squeezed her hand. The look on his face held promises for the evening, perhaps for the night, ahead.
“I’ll be counting the minutes.”
Romance
After watching her disappear up the stairway, Niles lowered himself onto a bench in the taproom and ordered a strong drink. Whiskey. A newspaper’s headline caught his attention as it lay on the table before him.
