He noticed his cousin George was sitting at one of the tables. They waved at each other. Willa’s mother was there as well, although he didn’t try to catch her attention.
Matt almost took a moment to tell George about the note, but then his cousin tossed several coins onto the table, and he reconsidered. George was serious when he played. He would not appreciate the interruption.
Matt found the side hall.
The note said the third door.
It was closed.
Matt stood outside it a moment and then didn’t bother to knock but barged right in, his fist doubled and his every nerve ready for anything.
The room was a small sitting room. A lamp burned on a table beside one of several chairs. It cast a warm glow around the dark green walls that gave the setting intimacy.
Standing on the far side, as if to keep the chairs between her and the door, was Letty Bainhurst. Golden, privileged, and exquisite in her beauty.
Matt was caught off guard.
She didn’t appear to be surprised. She acted as if she’d been waiting for him. With a glad cry, she ran toward him.
Chapter 11
Stunned by the sight of Letty when he’d had no reason to expect her, Matt didn’t react until the weight of her body hit his. Her arms banded around him, tightening their hold.
The heady scent of her perfume swirled around him, reminding him of her most intimate places. Her curves melded against him. How many times during their illicit meetings had she run at him in exactly this manner? His arms naturally wrapped around her—but in his defense, his common sense was shouting,Damn.
Letty kissed his neck and chin. Matt had the presence of mind to lean back, both to avoid her and to close the door behind him.
“You haven’t forgotten me,” Letty whispered fervently between her kisses. “Youhaven’t.”
He attempted to release her hold of him. She wasn’t cooperating. Her body, which had always understood his far better than he did, rubbed intimately against him while her lips went for his mouth.
He tried to tell her to leave off, but the words caught in his throat and came out in a groan of frustration... which sounded very much like pleasure.
Her breasts pressed against his shirt. Even through the layers of clothes, he could feel her hard nipples, smell the readiness of her... He remembered so much about her—
And then he thought of Willa.
Willa, who was spun gold to Letty’s dross. If his wife caught him here—
Matt pushed Letty away. He held her at arm’s distance. Her lush pink lips puckered and made silly fish noises as she begged for his kiss.
Dear God. Had he once found this exciting?
Matt let go and stepped away, moving around the edge of the room.
Letty gave her head a shake, her blond curls bouncing, as if she had just realized he was not holding her. She whirled to face him, her brows coming together in a frown. “You are angry with me.”
“Angry? No. Wary. You are the one who informed meIwas unnecessary.”
Her stance softened. She raised a hand to her head as if confused and said, “I know, I know, I know.” There was something that appeared to be sincere regret in her large, green eyes as she confessed, “I wronged you. I should never have let you go. It was cowardly of me.” She took a step toward him. “My husband came very close to finding out about us, and I needed to separate myself from you. I believed I was saving you from Bainhurst’s wrath. I know I didn’t handle the matter well. I was unkind.” She came another step closer, her hands held out in the pose of supplicant. “Letting you go was huge mistake. Matt, I think about you every waking hour. I dream of you.”
Even as little as a week ago, those would have been blessed words to Matt’s ears. He’d wanted a declaration from her. He’d certainly made many to her.
In the close space of this room, he realized she had been nothing more than his Achilles’ heel. He’d been floundering with the responsibilities of the title and overwhelmed by a failing estate. Letty had made him feel worth something—and Hardesty had known Matt’s weakness. Why else would he have sent a note guiding Matt to her? Hardesty might have even orchestrated the whole affair with Letty.
The thought caught Matt off guard, and yet, there was evidence of the possibility.
When he and Letty had parted company at his grandmother’s country party, Letty had shown no remorse. She’d been coldhearted and had behaved almost as if she couldn’t wait to be away from Matt.
