“Weare going nowhere!You,however, will be getting out any moment or else I’ll personally push you out myself.”
His gaze skimmed over her arms then traveled down her dress. Chuckling, he shook his head. “I wouldn’t bet on that. You do not appear to be that strong.”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you sure?”
He shrugged and held his hands out, palms up. “Give it a try. I dare you.”
Oh, the infuriating man!“Fine, you win. I cannot possibly throw you out, so I’ll politely ask you to leave,” she said, grinding out each word.
“All right. Go ahead.”
“Go ahead? What are you talking about, sir?”
“You said you wouldpolitelyask me to leave.” His grin stretched. “I’m still waiting for the polite part.”
“Augh! What have I ever done to deserve this?” she muttered.
He leaned closer, gazing deep into her eyes. “You know, I don’t believe I have ever seen such a vivid color of eyes in my life.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You have never seen blue before?”
“Yes, but your eyes are more than that. In fact, I believe we shall name a new color right now—just for your eyes and your eyes alone.”
“And pray, what would that name be?”
“Amazing.”
Inwardly, she groaned. “You have got to be jesting.”
“About your eye color?”
“Not that—about your choice of words. I believe, my lord, that you are repeating memorized phrases specifically used to charm a woman senseless.”
He hitched a breath, placing his hand on his chest. “You wound me deeply, my lovely.”
She growled. “Will you stop calling memy lovely?”
Leaning closer, his gaze rested on her mouth. He lifted his hand and gently stroked her cheek. Heat slipped from his fingertip and melded into her skin.Good Heavens this is wrong!
“I fear I cannot,” he said deeply. “The sentiment merely rolls off my tongue, and stopping is furthest from my mind.”
He was too close. Inhaling deeply only made her that much more aware of his intoxicating scent of leather and musk. Silently, she groaned, knowing she couldnotbe taken by this man.
She pressed her palms against his chest—a hard frame, no less—and moved him away. “Lord Hawthorne, what have I ever done to make you want to pursue me like this?”
“I have not stopped thinking about you. In fact, you look very familiar to me, but I cannot think how I know you.”
“You don’t know me. So go away.”
“But it’s more than that,” he continued without acknowledging her request. “I find you intriguing, and well, when I rode by Lady Hollingsworth’s estate and saw you out front instructing the footman to load the trunks, I became curious. Especially when I never saw the lady of the home actually board the carriage.”
“Lord Hawthorne, has anyone told you how insufferable you are?”
“Not at all, which is another reason why you intrigue me.”
“Because you’re not used to women shunning you?”
“Exactly.”
