She had to protect herself no matter what.
So she schooled her features, turned her gaze primly to the window, and willed her heart to stop doing that ridiculous fluttering thing.
“Did he manage to kiss you?”
Her head whipped to him. “What?”
“The man who tried to trap you. Did he? Manage to kiss you?”
Her brows furrowed. “Why are you asking me that right now?” She’d rather not rehash that. She hadn’t even meant to part with as much as she’d parted with the previous night. Perhaps that was one of the reasons she’d felt closed in. It wouldn’t take much for him to discover the man behind the story. In fact, as Annabelle had said, hemight already know. The words last night, however, had come of their own accord. His question now, on the other hand, made her think her friend might be right.
Anyhow, she blamed Annabelle and all the talk ofconversation.
He shrugged. “It wasn’t appropriate to ask last night.”
“It’s not appropriate right now!”
He tilted his head, eyes fixed on her with an unnerving focus. “Humor me.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Please.”
Alyssia sighed and shook her head. “He did not. I remain blissfully unkissed.”
“Good,” he said smoothly, voice soft but edged with something darker. Possessiveness, perhaps. Or relief. She couldn’t tell which unsettled her more. All of them. In equal measure.
The carriage lurched over a rut, knocking her knee against his. The brief touch should have ended there, but it didn’t. His leg stayed where it was, and every turn of the wheel reminded her of it. The man had a way of making every inch of air between them feel dangerous.
You’re not pulling away either.
Alyssia decided to ignore that inner snip.
“We could always change that, too.”
For a moment she thought she hadn’t heard him correctly! Had he just implied they should kiss? At his grin, she knew, the teasing was back. She glared at him. “You should really stop talking.”
“That would be impossible.”
Urgh. “Then just stop saying things that make me want to throw myself from this carriage.”
“Ah,” he murmured, lips curving, “at least youareaffected.”
“By irritation,” she remarked crisply.
“Affected is affected.”
She gave up. There was no winning with this man. She’d knownthat, of course, but it was truly inflaming to be reminded of it with each conversation while he remained maddeningly unruffled.
He leaned more comfortably into his seat, his knee still resting against her leg, the smug satisfaction practically radiating off him.
Still, she didn’t inch away.
Hopeless. She was absolutely hopeless.
He couldn’t drawthis affair out.
The thought of toying with his uncle had promised a grim sort of pleasure, but one glance at Alyssia on her way for a walk, her pensiveness, and that satisfaction turned hollow. All he wanted now was to end the matter, and his uncle, with finality.
