“Are you sure?” He lifted his hand to her face and his fingers gently stroked her cold cheek. “If I remember correctly, our conversations always became a little…heated.”
Warmth from his fingers melded into her skin. Suddenly, it became hard to breathe. Although she welcomed the temperature from his hand because she was cold, she didn’t welcome the way it came. She pushed his hand aside. “Lord Hawthorne, please don’t touch me like that.”
“As you wish.” He dropped his hand back to his side. “So, what do you say? Are you going to meet me or not? Or shall we stay out here shivering in the cold while we argue?”
She was relieved that he remembered about their arguments. “Fine, I’ll meet you.”
“Splendid. I know a small abandoned cottage up the street that overlooks the north-side cliffs. Meet me there at noon and we’ll have lunch together. I’ll have someone prepare our meal.”
Frowning, she folded her arms again. “We are just meeting there to talk, remember?”
“What’s wrong with eating while we’re talking?”
She grumbled and shook her head. “Fine. I’ll try to find where the cottage is located.”
“It’s easy, because the yard and house are in need of repairs. You cannot miss it.”
She pulled the neck of the fur-lined cloak up around her ears. “Then I shall see you tomorrow at noon, my lord.”
She turned, but he grasped her elbow, stopping her. He now stood straight and very close to her body. Tilting her head, she peered up into his shadowed eyes.
“Tabitha, I really wish you would call me Dominic…or Nic. While we’re in North Devon, I’m not Lord Hawthorne.”
“But you’re not Mr. Woodland, either.”
“Actually, I am, so please don’t treat me as anyone else. At least in public. In private I would like you to call me by my given name.” He stroked her cheek again. “Promise me you’ll do that?”
Tingles shot through her because now the warmth was mixed with his cologne and sweet words. He was definitely getting harder to resist, but she must. “While we are in public, I promise to treat you like the clergyman,” she whispered.
He didn’t move for several moments, just content to stare into her eyes. Curse him, because his gaze penetrated deep inside her and entranced her, and she couldn’t look away. She couldn’t even pull away. All she could do was hold her breath and pray he didn’t try to kiss her. For certain, she wouldn’t be able to resist him now.
Slowly, the corners of his mouth lifted into a grin. “Have a pleasant evening, Tabitha.”
He turned and walked away as if nothing happened. She grabbed the tree for support. What had happened to her knees? The cold must have numbed them somehow. She definitely needed to get inside, and she definitely needed to clear her head and put back the thoughts that should have been in there to begin with, but had somehow disappeared.
Tomorrow she would be on guard and prepare herself for his charming seduction. She vowed he would not win!
Chapter Nine
Asmile stayedon Dominic’s face as he sat at the desk in Frederick’s study, writing a letter to his friends Trey and Tristan. Six months ago when Nic had left Mayfair to come to North Devon, he’d let Trey and Tristan know he was leaving to help out family. They certainly wouldn’t believe what Nic had to do in order to help his cousin.
He didn’t say much in his letter, but asked how Tabitha was doing. He tried not to leave any hints that she was even here in North Devon. Hopefully, his friends would update him on her life since it was apparent she wasn’t living the same way when he’d last seen her.
Last night’s little meeting by the tree went well. She was the stubborn woman he remembered, but her vivid eyes gave away what emotion she struggled with whenever he was around. She still desired him, he could tell. That tidbit of information made him happier than he really should be right now. Nonetheless, hewasoverjoyed at seeing her eyes dance with uncertainty, and hearing her ragged breaths when he had moved close to her and touched her cheek.
Because of that, he was encouraged to continue his plan of softening her heart. Today for lunch he would do his best to show her the real Dominic Lawrence. Usually he was able to make women melt quickly, and although Tabitha resisted, hebelieved she was worth the effort. The end result would be most fulfilling.
He finished and folded up the pages, putting his seal on the outside. As he cleared up his writing utensils, Frederick walked in and sat across the desk. The expression on his face told Nic his cousin wanted a serious discussion. Nic would rather not participate since his mood was light and happy, but he’d oblige his cousin, anyway.
“I’ve been thinking,” Frederick began.
“Yes, it does look like you have much on your mind.” Nic leaned back in the chair, laced his fingers together and rested them on his chest.
“Something doesn’t add up about Mr. Jacobs and his daughter’s accident yesterday.”
“What confuses you?”
Frederick scratched his chin. “The hole in the sand. Because of where the spot was so close to the tide, the hole should have been filled in quickly—within hours. That tells me the hole was freshly dug.”
