Fascinated, he kept his smile steady. This woman was brilliant, almost too brilliant. How could she read him so well?
“What is it that you desire, my sweet Maxey?”
“I want to know what you want.”
“But I have already declared my intentions.”
She shook her head. “But I have refused to believe you.”
He pulled away from the rock wall and stepped to her side. “Then how, my sweet temptress, am I supposed to make you accept the truth? What can I do to convince you of my loyalty?” He caressed the side of her face, letting his thumb trace her lips again. “Because I cannot go much longer without wanting to hold you, touch you, and kiss your sensuous mouth.”
“Tell me, Nash.” She placed her palm on the golden lapel of his vest. “When, during all of your performances, did you get the chance to look at me?” Her eyebrows rose. “In those seven days, the sole time I saw you even glance my way was tonight, and not until the very end.”
He lifted her slender fingers away from his chest, slowly pulling off her glove before bringing her fingers to his mouth and brushing light kisses along their tips. “Oh, but I noticed you. How could I not when you made the balcony booth light up like heaven?”
She chuckled. “I believe you have memorized these words and used them numerous times on other women you pursued.”
“You insult me.” He kissed her palm, letting his mouth linger perhaps a moment longer than he should have.
“And you insult me if you think I’m going to fall into your arms and be swept off my feet.” She snatched her hand away. “I am not some simpering female waiting to swoon at any moment.”
He studied her with greater interest. No other woman had ever presented such a challenge. Maxey was more intelligent than most women he’d tried to charm, and his pride stung over her refusal. He wasn’t certain he appreciated that.
“You are an amazing woman, Maxey, and you have captured my interest.” Before pulling back, he sighed heavily. “But tell me what I can do. Since you have no desire to be seduced tonight, there will be no flowery words or tender touches, but I want you to stay a little longer, if that is all right with you.”
With a smile, he realized he wanted this. Had he ever sat and talked to a woman? What could he say to a female who actually used her mind? “Promise you will stay?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Of course, my sweet lady. I will not keep you if you wish to leave.”
She hesitated as she glanced inside the opened doors toward Sally. Maxey’s expression held a flicker of distrust for a moment, but when she met his eyes and nodded, the lines in her forehead softened.
“I would really like to get to know the real Nash—not the performer, singer, or the seducer, but the man inside this body.” She tapped lightly on his chest.
“As you wish. I will watch my suggestive words, and for the remainder of the evening, I will speak about the most boring subject ever…my life.”
This time, the smile she gave him brightened her face and put a twinkle in her blue-gray eyes. He could get trapped in her stare if he didn’t watch it.
“Thank you,” she replied. “Your acceptance has made my night.”
Nash knew it would be harder to break this incredible woman, but soon she would makehisnight very memorable.
*
Maxey took adeep breath to calm down. She had the upper hand. At least for now. But it worried her because Nash was good. Almost too good. The sensations her body experienced from his touch were nearly impossible to control. This man knew how to get his way. Thankfully, she knew how to argue.
Her wild cousin, Charlotte—Alexandria’s older sister—had educated Maxey with stories of her escapades with men. Charlotte once showed Maxey how to flirt. Charlotte explained how a woman felt when a man touched them. Maxey didn’t really want to know—didn’t want to be reminded of her mother’s past mistakes—but had listened anyway, since it would help her charade with Nash. How else could she pretend to be a woman of experience?
With a practiced smile, she followed him through the wide double doors into the parlor, then to the fireplace. Sally hadn’t moved from her slumped position on the couch and looked as though she purposely tried to catch flies with her opened mouth. Maxey frowned. What would possess Nash to have his manservant drug her?
Shrugging away the concern, Maxey reminded herself to be watchful. If she wanted to prove to her employer she could be trusted and find Lord Wentworth’s missing ruby ring, she dared not act like a worrisome female.
Nash’s sensuous smile took her breath away. Resistance to his charm was almost futile. Already a few times, she had wanted to lose herself in his arms and allow his mouth possession of hers, but she was barely able to control her emotions as it was. Kissing him would complicate matters. It was essential to stay focused on her objective. She couldn’t allow passion to rule her feelings.
Not like it had ruled her mother’s life.
Maxey vowed she would never become the woman her mother had. Temptation and yearning for a man’s touch would not weaken Maxey.
