He cleared his throat, but his voice was still low and rough when he said, “Miss Oliver.”
Her breath felt very short as she stared at him. She’d never met a man who caused that cliché loss of breath, but here he was, standing in her brother’s parlor. She had to regain some control of herself, for God’s sake.
So she arched a brow and retook control. “Whatever did you determine, Mr. Huntington, when you were watching me so intently on the drive?”
She saw the flutter of frustration on his face, but also interest. Her smile grew more real at both of those. She liked testing him. It was fun, as well as functional.
He shifted a fraction and then took a long step in her direction. He seemed to loom up in front of her, too tall and too present and just…too. She edged a bit nearer, as well, and now they were less than an arm’s length apart.
“I was watching Lady Winford,” he said.
She smiled at the lie and tilted her head toward him. “If you say so.”
His jaw clenched a little. There was that control, balanced on a knife’s blade. And she still wanted to know what would happen if she ever…snapped it.
“Did she say anything of interest to you?” he asked.
She lifted her hands to her hips as she glared at him. “Oh, so now you want my help again.”
“No, I only—” he began, but she didn’t let him finish. She stopped him by lifting a hand and placing it flat against his chest. Through the fabric, she felt his heart rate elevate, saw his pupils dilate. Felt the coiled strength of him tighten all the more.
“Youneed to figure out what youwant, Derrick Huntington.” She drew out every syllable of his name.
His breath hitched, and the room seemed to shrink as he stared down at her. And even though this was exactly the position she’d been trying to create, exactly the game she’d come here to play, now that she was standing here, touching him, feeling the pulse of the instant, heated connection between them, she found herself backing away. Her hand dropped to her side and blood filled her cheeks.
“Good afternoon,” she stammered, then turned and hustled from the room before he could catch her arm and draw her back. Before he could draw her in. Before he could draw her out and win the game that Derrick didn’t even know they were playing.
Chapter 9
As much as she willed them not to, Selina’s hands were still shaking as she burst into her chamber. She wanted a moment alone, perhaps to flop on her bed and relieve herself of some of the pesky desire that still pulsed through her. But it wasn’t to be. Vale was perched on her bed, lazing against the pillows, and she sat up as Selina closed the door behind her.
“The bitch is here,” Selina said without preamble.
She didn’t need it, for those words brightened Vale’s expression and she clapped her hands together. “Excellent! That means the necklace is too. All these plans, they’re about to come to fruition at last!”
Vale was right, of course, but Selina was having a hard time finding pleasure in that fact. All she could think about was Katherine and her welcoming Selina into the family.
All she could think about was Derrick and the way those dark eyes just bored their way all the way to whatever was left of her soul.
“You seem out of sorts,” Vale said, and her tone yanked Selina back into reality. “Why?”
Selina blinked and Vale’s face fell. “How many years have we been friends?”
“Vale-”
“How many?” Vale repeated.
Selina sighed. “Seven. Since the night you saved my life.”
“I’ve known your secret. Have I ever even come close to telling it?”
Selina shifted, for Vale was right. But the reason she felt out of sorts felt…different somehow. Personal. Emotional. It could be seen as a weakness. And weaknesses could always be used as ammunition.
Vale folded her arms. “Is it Huntington?”
“No!” Selina heard how loud that denial was. How falsely quick and forceful. “No,” she repeated, with a bit more control this time.
But the damage was done. Vale pushed from the bed, and Selina could see how troubled her friend looked. “I’mworriedabout you. You had better get whatever this is under control, Selina. Or else it might end the Fox.”
