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“Too dramatic.” And not likely this side of heaven, by God. “And that might only encourage her to reform me.”

“Leave it to me. I shall be tactful.” Georgine shifted slightly, as if to get more comfortable. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion toppled between the cushions encircling her chair.

“Drat.” Bending forward, she giggled. “I cannot see the book. The pillows have swallowed it whole.”

“Never fear, fair damsel. I shall retrieve your tome.” Robyn shot her a grin. Bracing one arm on the chair, he kneeled to retrieve the volume. As the book had slid under the chair, the act nearly placed his head in her lap.

He glanced up, and their eyes locked.

At once, sensual tension engulfed him.

Georgine felt it too.

Her eyes rounded, then went soft and womanly before she darted her tongue out to wet her lips.

Robyn almost groaned out loud.

He’d wanted to sample that sweet mouth for weeks now.

Perhaps, one small kiss…

“Georgine…”

Voices and footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Deuced unlucky timing.

To ease the strain, he quipped, “Matilda and Regina prepared the tea tray in record time.”

Georgine cleared her throat, and when she spoke, her voice had a husky tenor. “Perhaps you should wait until I have returned to my bedchamber.”

“Not a bit of it. Almost there,” he grunted, straining further, his cheek brushing her thigh.

God help him.

“It’s wedged fast, Georgie.”

“I didn’t realize it would be so hard…”

A theatrical gasp sliced through the air. “Scan-dal-ous.”