Page 24 of The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake

Rosie shrugged. “It is the truth.”

“I will not have my business talked of in this manner.” Gerald fisted his hands. “You will take the barrels and you will pay now.”

Rosie lifted her chin. “Never.”

“You heard the lady.” Adam folded his arms, drawing himself up to his full height. “Take your ale and do not return.”

The man’s gaze flicked between him and Rosie. “Who is this chap anyway? He don’t look like the sort to be playing innkeeper.”

“That is none of your business,” Rosie replied. “But if you wish to make trouble, he’s been in more fights than you have.”

Adam kept his expression neutral but with difficulty. Whilst it was true he was no stranger to fighting, he doubted he had more experience than this fellow. Not to mention, he was yet to recover from the stab wound.

Gerald glanced him over. Adam did his best to appear as intimidating as possible. It must have worked as Gerald stepped back. He thrust a finger at Rosie. “This isn’t over, lady.”

“It is,” Adam said firmly.

With a grunt, the man turned away. Adam waited in the doorway with Rosie until they had driven the cart out of the courtyard then shut the door.

“You’re lucky he did not want a fight,” he said.

“Gerald is too old to be fighting, and you have a certain look.” She gestured around her face.

He lifted a brow. “A look?”

“The little scars? Not to mention how you stand.”

“How is that?”

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “As though you are the best at everything in the world.” Her lips quirked.

“I did not think my scars were that prominent.”

“Well, I suppose I have seen them up close.” Her cheeks reddened.

“I rather expected you to be furious at me for interfering. You know, after...”

“Yesterday?” She shrugged. “Yesterday you were about to create a brawl. Today, you prevented one.”

“I told you the ale was terrible.”

“I know.” She shook her head. “I’ve known for a while. Since his uncle passed, the ale has been less and less palatable. I do believe he is guilty of watering it down to increase his profits.” Hands to her hips, she blew out a breath. “But now I do not have any ale. And I doubt they shall drop this.”

∞∞∞

“I shall stay then.” He offered a simple shrug as though it was the most obvious idea in the world. “They shall not do a thing whilst I am in residence.”

Rosie closed her eyes briefly and pressed a finger to the throbbing that had started in the furrow between her brows. Of course a lord like Adam would think things were solved so easily. She would wager his mere presence often solved many an issue—especially considering bowing and scraping usually ensued in his company.

“You cannot stay here forever,” she pointed out. “I shall have to come up with a solution eventually.”

“I’ll stay long enough for them to lose interest,” he offered.

“That could be weeks. Months even.”

He shrugged again.

She lifted her gaze to the ceiling. He might seem entirely comfortable staying at her inn currently but she doubted it would last. Soon he would tire of wiping tables and chopping vegetables...and kissing her. The novelty would be gone and she would be left alone once more. She could not depend on him. She would not depend on him.

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