The smile she gave him was purposefully sweet.“Then I have nothing to fear, do I?”
Dark eyes stared into hers.“Your faith in me is a bit overwhelming.”
“I watched you fight off two men yesterday.One of them larger than you.”
“Only because you helped.”
“Which proves we make an excellent team.”She held her breath and waited for his response, her stomach clenching due to the wary look he gave her.
“I pray I’ll never regret this.”Sighing, he tied the reins to the seat rail and gave her his full attention.“How do you wish to proceed?”
34
Adrian’s heart refused to slow.It continued thumping wildly against his chest as he helped Samantha from his carriage and led her across the field.She’d suggested they stroll while they crafted their plan and he’d been in full agreement.He’d felt like a wolf trapped in a cage for the past half hour.
The tension gripping his body was like an insatiable hunger.It had to be satisfied somehow and since a violent fight and a shag were both off the table, he had to settle for walking.
Dog’s bollocks, the woman had him vexed, anxious and overheated, all at the same time.Hands clasped behind his back, he glanced at her, matching her paces while she began stitching a plan together.Had she been offended when he’d invited her to become his mistress?It hadn’t seemed that way, but he could be wrong.
At least she’d said she’d think about it, but would she accept?He desperately hoped so.Now that he’d had a small taste, he wouldn’t be satisfied until she came to his bed.Not just to sate his desire, but to mend his damaged soul.
“It will involve the two of us showing an increased interest in one another,” she said, her suggestive comment sending a thrill down his spine.
The edge of his mouth quirked.“That shouldn’t be hard.”
She rolled her eyes but the twitch of her lips was evidence of her amusement.“We have to be very public about it to make sure word spreads.”
“Although I’m not supposed to attend social functions at present, a ball would probably serve as the best location.With hundreds of people in attendance, the killer is bound to hear what happened even if he’s not there himself.”
“Agreed.The one Harlowe’s hosting will make for the perfect setting.I’ll make sure you’re not turned away at the door.”Halting, she faced him.“We’ll need help though.From someone we can rely on to be discreet.”
“Why?”
“So we can be absolutely sure the killer will know I’m the sort of woman he’s after.”When he failed to respond she reminded him boldly, “There tend to be two men in the victim’s life – the one who believes she’ll make him the perfect wife, and the one with whom she’s finding her pleasure.”
“In other words,” Adrian murmured while tamping down the sick feeling that roiled in his stomach, “you need to be courted and compromised at the same time.”
“Yes.”
A series of deep breaths helped fight the red haze before it descended over his eyes.He’d never believed himself capable of jealousy, but the idea of anyone other than him so much as touching Samantha put murderous thoughts in his head.
She was his.No one else’s.
“Adrian?”
“What?”His muscles were straining so hard he was practically shaking.
“You look…furious.”
He glared at her while trying to come to grips with his increasing feelings for her.They were bloody inconvenient, made worse by the terror of knowing their plan, however good it might be, could fail.Thathecould fail.And that going ahead with it put him at risk of losing her forever.
He slammed the door shut on that thought and leaned toward her, shoulders tense.“Which one will I be?The lovesick fool or the scoundrel who gets to push up your skirts?”
“Naturally the first,” she said with a bite to her voice.“We’ve spent enough time together at various social functions for a courtship between us to look like a natural progression.I can’t sell that with somebody else.”
Her comment appeased him a little, though not nearly enough.He flexed his fingers.“And your seducer?”
She crossed her arms.“What about Marsdale?”
