“I what?” He stepped closer and dropped his voice.
“Don’t,” she finished sheepishly, examining a rose.
“How would you describe my lips?” He studied the delicate, plump curve of her mouth, dying to hear the answer.
She tilted up her head to look at him. “Firmly molded?” She took a breath. “Enticing.”
He arched a brow. “Enticing?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
His mouth quirked, aching to smile. “How so?”
She took a step closer to him. “I’ve never wanted to kiss a man before.”
There it was again, that refreshing forthright honesty. “Have you ever been kissed?” he asked, ensuring that his tone remained conversational, as though they discussed the evening’s temperature. The last thing he wanted was to scare her off.
She shook her head slowly, her eyes wide and liquid, shining in the moonlight.
“Well, then, we must rectify that situation.” He pulled her into his arms and his lips crushed down on hers.
***
The door to Lord Allen’s house swung open, shaking Mark from his memories and loosening his grip on Nicole. The memory of their first kiss had made his fingers curl more tightly around her lower arm. She gave him a questioning look and he released her, straightening his coat and clearing his throat.
A butler showed them into a well-appointed drawing room that held a variety of guests from both the aristocracy and the political arena. A footman offered them glasses of champagne. Mark exchanged greetings with several guests before both Lord Allen and Lord Tottenham emerged from the crowd to greet them.
“Grimaldi, there you are. I heard you left the country. Was wondering if you’d make it,” Lord Allen said, with a friendly, gap-toothed smile.
“I just returned last night,” Mark replied. “Gentlemen, may I present you with my wife, Nicole?”
Nicole executed a perfect curtsy and extended hergloved hand first to Lord Tottenham, who bowed over it, and then to Lord Allen, who did the same.
“Mrs.Grimaldi,” Lord Allen said. “So nice to finally meet you. I would love to tell you I’ve heard all about you from your husband, but I’m afraid he’s earned his ‘stone man’ moniker. I had no idea you existed until a few weeks ago.”
“Nicole has been in France for some time,” Mark replied quickly before Nicole was forced to invent an excuse.
“Yes, so I’ve been told,” Allen replied, eyeing Nicole with obvious approval before taking a sip from his own champagne glass.
“Family issues,” Nicole interjected. It was the safest thing to say. They had discussed their story in the coach. The fewer details the better, they’d agreed.
“Grimaldi,” Lord Tottenham boomed. “Good to see you again.” Mark shook the older man’s hand. “I had no idea you were married. And to such a beautiful woman. Why on earth have you been hiding her?” He waggled his bushy eyebrows in Nicole’s direction.
“You know me,” Mark replied, clenching his glass in his fist. “I prefer to keep my private life private.”
“You spies and your secrets.” Lord Tottenham shook his mane of gray hair and laughed. His generous belly bounced. “I must say, I’m pleased to learn you’re a family man.”
Nicole shot Mark a quick, ironic glance before turning her attention to Lord Tottenham and giving him a warm, genuine smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
“How in heaven’s name did this blighter manage to convince a gorgeous woman like you to marry him?” Lord Tottenham asked, laughing heartily.
“He had his ways,” Nicole replied dryly.
Mark could feel her looking at him sidelong. He cleared his throat.
“Yes, well,” Allen said, directing his words to Lord Tottenham. “You know Grim here is my first choice for Secretary of the Home Office.”
“Yes,” Mark interjected. “I’d like nothing more than to steal a moment of your time, Lord Tottenham, so that I might share with you my ideas for the position. I have many—”
