He laughed. Of course he did, the bloody sod. She really was going to have to stop amusing him.
So she said, “I still want to know who you hired for that charade at the ball. An actor, or was it some destitute gentleman who didn’t realize he’d be risking the wrath of my family?”
“You still don’t think it was me?”
“You keep forgetting he had blond hair.”
“A wig, but then you also wore one that night.” Then he grinned. “Like minds...”
She snorted rudely. He opened one of his desk drawers, pulled out the blond wig, and twirled it on his finger, adding, “It never even occurred to me to hire someone else, but then I wouldn’t trust anyone else to pique your interest. Which reminds me...”
He stood and came around his desk. Jack bolted to the door. As usual, he got there first and positioned himself in front of it. She plowed a fist into his stomach, but that hurt so badly she wondered if she’d just broken some knuckles. He didn’t make a sound, lost no breath at all to the punch. Instead he caught both of her hands and gently locked them behind her back, leaving her entirely too close to him, their chests touching.
She looked up at him, about to scream, but that’s when he kissed her. It utterly surprised her, long enough for his lips to brush over hers once, then again, so sensually soft, so...
She head-butted him, hoping to bloody his nose. At least she tried to, but as usual, he anticipated her moves and lifted his head out of the way, so her forehead only struck the top of his chest.
“That was for looking so bloody beautiful at that ball, so don’t begrudge me one kiss. It won’t happen again—unless you want it to.”
Chapter Fourteen
HOW DARE YOU KISSme?” Jack snarled. “If you do that again, I’ll do more than try to bloody your nose.” She pulled away from him, able to do so because he’d loosened his grip on her hands.
But all he said was “If you keep hurting yourself on me, I’m going to have to restrain you again.”
“It’s the only way you’re going to be safe. Go ahead and tie me up. It’s no more’n I expect from a bloody pirate.” She quickly turned her back on him because she didn’t want him to see her rubbing her hand. Her knuckles were red, but no bones were broken.
He laughed. “I’m not worried about myself. Give it up, Jack. I’ve seen you soft and flirtatious. You liked me.”
That ridiculous remark made her swing about. He was standing behind his desk.
“Not you, fool! The mystery was all I liked that night. It’s what I expected from a masked ball and was disappointed that my beaus ruined that for me.”
“You mentioned that.”
“Yes, I did, so you should know that you merely supplied the mystery that was missing. I appreciated that. If you mistook that for ‘liking’ you, you’re dead wrong.”
“Yet you showed up at the park to meet me the next day. It’s too bad you didn’t come alone.” Then he sounded a little more than curious, almost indignant on her behalf, when he asked, “What could your father have been thinking, letting bruisers like that escort you? A dozen footmen wouldn’t have drawn as much notice as those four and would have been just as protective.”
“It worked to frighten you off, didn’t it?” she shot back with a smirk.
“I wasn’t frightened, Jack. I do lean on the side of caution though, and I like my face the way it is. It would have been quite a fight and would have served no purpose other than to let you ride off without me.”
She snorted. “You wouldn’t have won. Those four are longtime sparring partners of my father’s—when his brother Tony isn’t around to accommodate him in the ring. And answer me. Did you have my guards killed?”
“No, but detained, yes. All of the men you brought along tonight will be released after my... suggestion is delivered to your father. I’m not taking chances this time. I’m letting a full week pass before your father is informed that I have you and he comes after us.”
“Not if you left it to the posts again.”
“I didn’t,” he said a little smugly. “I left a trusted man behind to see to it.”
A full week? Her mother was going to be out of her mind by then!
“I hate you!”
“I’m aware of that.”
“You have no idea what you’ve—I should have shot you while I had the chance!”
