If he couldn’t manage that, did he even deserve it? And what of his uncle? What if he was forced to take more drastic measures? What if he ruined the one good thing left untouched by the past?
But was it truly untouched?
Would the matter with Rafferty have happened to Alyssia if he had still been here?
“Your mind is racing.”
He blinked, and her features pulled back into focus. She stared at him, eyes narrowed, arms crossed, and brows furrowed. Christ, he loved the sight. He loved every sight of her. “It will do that when my beautiful woman glares at me like she’s planning my demise.”
“You’re doing it again.”
“What? Teasing?”
“Crossing boundaries.”
Boundaries. It was one of those words with a hundred nuances. She could draw a thousand. He’d cross every last one if it meant she stayed his. Allwithinher boundaries, of course. Every line she drew only made him want to step closer.
Bishop grinned and motioned her over. Her eyes narrowed evenfurther, and with a put-upon huff, she crossed the few steps back to the tub, each one as reluctant as an innocent man marching to the gallows.
She leaned down, offering him her ear.
Bishop leaned in and audibly sniffed. “Ah, so I wasn’t mistaken. You have a smell about you, Liss. Perhaps you should join me in the tub and wash it off.”
Her body whipped back up, and she glared daggers at him. “You seem to forget this is a marriage of convenience at every turn!”
“Is it not convenient bathing together?”
Her cheeks flushed scarlet, and her indignation was a sight to behold. Bishop couldn’t bite back a laugh this time. God help him, her fury was charming. She could scold him straight to perdition, and it would be music to him.
“You see?” he added when she didn’t scold him. “I haven’t forgotten about our marriage and what we agreed upon.” He could feel his grin turning wicked. “I didn’t, however, agree not to tease you.”
“Could this even be considered teasing at this point?” she countered. “You must be mocking me!”
“I’ll never mock you, Liss. Come now, forgive me, please. Press your nose against mine and I’m sure I’ll remember never to do it again this time.”
“Incorrigible!” She turned and strode from the room. “I don’t believe you! And don’t call me Liss!”
He laughed.
Yes, you shouldn’t believe me . . .princess.
Chapter Seven
Steam curled fromthe teacups, but it was Alyssia who was in danger of boiling over. “The man is utterly unrestrained with his teasing!”
Across from her, Annabelle took a sip of tea, eyes glinting with amusement. “Seems to me that he is flirting with you.”
“Flirting? Hah! You don’t know that man at all!”
“I take this to mean the marriage was not consummated?”
“Annabelle!”
“What? You never know. The two of you have history, after all.”
History or not, his teasing had crossed the line! Should she have left the moment she’d discovered him in a tub? Yes. However, had that last bit of wheedling to bathe together been necessary? No!
Alyssia steeled her mind to focus on the matter at hand, reading over the gossip column again. It was already noon, so she could just imagine the flock that had tried to call on her this morning after reading about her mysterious marriage. While the columnist did “announce” her wedding, it also came with speculation about the reason.
