“That means you believe everything you are told to be the truth. You believe that just because Carolyn sent you and Sally to find me, I am my brother’s killer. You aren’t even allowing any possibility for doubt.” Nash folded his arms across his muscular chest.
A dull throb knocked against the inside of her skull as doubt filled her mind again. Hoping to bring a little relief, she massaged the pain. Nash had a point. Then again, what if he came from a family of professional sweet talkers? She hadn’t known Lord Wentworth that well, and although he was a like mind, she never saw him trying to charm anyone but his wife.
Nash cupped her chin again, forcing her to meet his warm eyes. “Tell me what I can do to make you believe me.”
Like before, his nearness created greater confusion while his gentle touch clouded her mind. “If you’re not guilty, then why did you panic when I told you about Constable Lawrence coming to arrest you?”
Nash turned away from her, strode to the fire, and, with the poker, separated the broken logs. “I confess that I had a moment of fear. If Carolyn suspected me, then of course everyone else would. However, now I believe differently.”
He returned the poker and moved away from the hearth. Before, whenever Nash’s gaze drifted over Maxey, trickles of delight had danced on her skin, but this time he tilted his head and studied her with a judgmental stare that made her want to squirm.
Anger sparked inside her once again. How dare he make her feel this way. Hewasguilty. His actions proved it. She also needed to gain his trust. How else could she convince him to come back to the estate with her?
Slowly, she let the frustration inside her leave her body. “Nash, I have decided I will allow you to prove you are innocent.”
His dark brows rose. “Indeed?”
Through her lie, she tried to keep a serious expression. She wasn’t ready to believe him. Still, too many holes lay uncovered in his story, especially about his uncle. “Yes.”
“Show me.”
She inhaled sharply. “How am I required to show you? You do not make sense, Nash.”
During Nash’s silence, Maxey’s fierce heartbeat knocked harder with every second that passed. Although she wanted to believe, there was still that matter of proving her worth to Lady Wentworth. With so many doubts lingering in Maxey’s head, she had no other choice but to string Nash along. For now, she would pretend to believe his far-fetched story until she held the tangible proof of his guilt. That was when she could contact the police inspector herself.
Nash smoothed his finger over his mustache yet again, drawing her attention to his lips, the very same heavenly pair she had kissed not too long ago. She scolded her wayward thoughts. The heat in the room must be what was melting her brain.
“Come with me to find my uncle,” Nash said. “When we find him with my brother’s ring, we shall know he killed for the title. After all, the ring proves who is the rightful heir.”
She chuckled. “That will not work. Lady Wentworth is expecting me to return to the estate soon.”
“Does she know you have found me?”
“Of course not. Before tonight, I had onlysuspectedyou were Ignatius Burke.”
Nash stepped closer, and his masculine, spicy scent enveloped her. He circled her waist with his arms and pulled her to his solid chest.
She rested her hands on the lapels of his gold vest and stared up into his beautiful brown eyes. It was going to be hard to pretend to believe him—to let him touch her in such a personal way and allow his affection. But she had to. How else could he start to have faith in her?
“My sweet Maxey, if you want me to prove my innocence, do this one thing for me. That is all I ask.” His expression relaxed as his eyes pleaded with her. “One more day is all I need to prove to you that my uncle is the killer. Not me.”
Curse his irresistible, hypnotic eyes.She didn’t know how any woman could resist him, because she definitely couldn’t when he gazed at her like this. But she must. Determination flowed through her, and she vowed she would be strong. Of course, that meant she couldn’t look at him or allow the moment to turn passionate.
Pretending this way would prove to be harder than she had expected.
Chapter Four
Nash tightened hisarms around Maxey, and the quick rhythm of her heart pounded against his chest. When uncertainty flickered in her eyes, he held his breath and waited for her answer. A smile touched her lips, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
He couldn’t allow her to take him back to his brother’s estate. There was still the chance that Carolyn wouldn’t believe him, and Nash wasn’t about to go to prison for a murder he did not commit.
“Nash, you’re a hard man to resist, and although I’m going against my better judgment, I’ll agree to give you one more day.”
Relief rushed through him. With her help to prove his uncle’s deceitfulness, maybe Nash could bring an end to his sister-in-law’s suffering. Not knowing who killed her husband must be the hardest thing she had gone through.
“I thank you, sweet Maxey,” he murmured, then lowered his lips to seal the bargain.
She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, allowing his lips to pay homage to hers as he kept the kiss gentle. She slid her hands up his neck and threaded her fingers through the hair at his nape, as if not wanting him to pull away.
