Page 2 of Married to the Rake

Chloe ducked all the way down as Mr. Brook Waverley made his way through the bookstore. She sucked in a deep breath and held it. With any luck, he would not come around the bookshelves. What was the man doing here anyway? Mr. Waverley was no reader. The man was a rake and a rogue and he certainly was too busy seducing innocent women to find time for reading.

She crouched deeper and could hear her friends muttering between themselves about her behavior. Because her friends were so new, they did not know of her relationship with Mr. Waverley.

If it could be called a relationship. Loathing a person did not count as one, did it?

Aware of her heart pounding in her ears, she governed her breath as though he might hear them rasping in her chest. Dare she risk a peek? Had he already gone? Damn him for invading the one place where she could find solace. She loathed London and all that it entailed but this bookshop almost made it worthwhile.

Slowly, she rose.

“Miss Larkin?”

Chloe screamed, dropping the few books she was hugging. One landed on her foot and she hissed out a mild curse. She spun in the direction of the voice and scowled. “Look what you made me do.”

A dark brow rose. Mr. Waverley ran his gaze up and down her, making her feel as though she were a show horse ready for sale. No, make that a cow. A clumsy, awkward, fat cow. Somehow, Brook Waverley always made her feel like that.

She was no society beauty with her generous curves and raven hair that had a tendency to wash out her pale skin but she was certainly not a clumsy, awkward, fat cow. However, with the way he looked at her at present, she was almost tempted to let out a loudmoo.

“I only greeted you, Miss Larkin. I am not sure I can be blamed for you dropping your books.”

“You startled me.”

His generous lips curved to one side. She didn’t like how her gaze fell upon them. He would take it as though she was interested in him. Which could not be further from the truth. He was precisely the sort of man she loathed. One like Augusta’s Henry who could not be trusted to stick to a commitment. Tales of Mr. Waverley’s exploits were rife amongst society and she had never seen anything to contradict those stories.

“Perhaps if you had not been hiding, you would not have been startled.” His green eyes sparkled with amusement.

She curled a fist at her side. Why did this man always have to taunt her so? He seemed to take great delight in riling her whenever they met. It should not happen often but, unfortunately, their family’s estates were next to one another. The families were far from friends but naturally meetings did occur because of their proximity to one another.

Chloe lifted her chin. “I was not hiding.” She glanced down at the spilled books. “I was, uh, looking for a book.”

“More books? Surely you have enough books to last you a lifetime.”

“Only someone who is ill read would make such a comment.”

Instead of annoying him, her insult seemed to amuse him further. Creases appeared around his green eyes. Mr. Waverley was only a year her senior but he had a worldly look to him. That was likely because he had hopped from bed to bed all around the country. If the most recent rumors were correct, he had been bedding a Spanish contessa. All those nights in various women’s arms had probably taught him much about the world.

Not that she was envious, of course. She could think of better ways of learning about the world. Through books, perhaps.

“Here, let me help you.” Mr. Waverley crouched down to gather the books she’d dropped.

“Oh no.” She lowered to her knees. “That’s really not necessary.” The last thing she wanted was a Waverley to do her a favor. It would never be forgotten.

She reached for a book and her hand covered his. A strange heat burst up her arm and she snatched her hand back, feeling the heat flow into her cheeks. Shooting to her feet, her eyes blurred, her head feeling woozy for a faint moment. Two strong hands grabbed her arms.

Chloe blinked. That same heat radiated from his fingertips pressing gently into her arms.

“Careful, Miss Larkin. I would not want to see you come to harm.” His words were warm and teasing. She did not like them one bit.

“That is a lie,” she spat.

His lips quirked again. “I am no liar. And despite the history between our families, I have no ill will toward you.”

Opening her mouth then closing it again, she searched around for her friends. Joanna caught her eye and gave a subtle nod. Hastening over, Joanna took her arm and created some distance between her and Mr. Waverley. In an instant, the heat began to dissipate from her body.

“Chloe, it is high time we left. We have much to do,” Joanna said sweetly.

Augusta nodded vigorously. “Oh yes,” she said stiffly. “We must dash.”

Chloe did not even bid Mr. Waverley a farewell as she hastened out of the entrance to the shop, accompanied by Augusta and Joanna on either side. Once they were out onto the pavement and at the corner of the road, Joanna pulled Chloe to a halt.

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