Page 26 of The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake

“What about Fred?” Harriet suggested.

“Fred?” Adam asked.

“He owns the inn at Grasmere and we aid each other when we can.”

“Only because he is half in love with Rosie.” Harriet giggled.

Adam’s expression hardened. “Maybe there is someone else who can help.”

“He is old enough to be my father,” Rosie muttered.

“He’s still in love with you,” Harriet said gleefully.

Rosie shot her a look and Harriet pressed her lips together with a smile.

“We shall go to Fred.” Rosie snatched her hat and coat from the hat stand and shoved her arms into the sleeves.

Adam took a step forward. “Excellent, if you—”

Rosie put a hand to his arm. “Harriet and I will go. She can aid me with lifting the barrels.Ifhe gives us any that is.”

“Oh he will.” Harriet’s grin widened.

“You should not be going anywhere alone.” Adam took another step forward.

“And you cannot manage the ride yet.” Rosie gestured to his gut. “It is a tough journey indeed, and you cannot lift barrels. You are more use to me here.” She grabbed Harriet’s arm and dragged her toward the door before either Adam or Harriet could protest.

“I do not know why you did not wish to take him,” Harriet muttered as she settled on the seat of the wagon next to her once the horse had been hitched. “He seems well enough to me.” She nudged her with an elbow. “Besides, I would wager he would enjoy the time alone with you.”

Rosie scowled and rubbed her ribs. “It does not matter what he would enjoy.”

“What about whatyouwould enjoy? I have never seen you look at a man so.” Harriet sighed. “You deserve some happiness. You work too hard.”

“You have seen nothing, Harriet.”

Harriet rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

“I do.” Rosie flicked the reins. There was nothing between them. And that would not change. A little desire between a lord and an innkeeper could lead nowhere good and she was grateful for the reminder. No matter how much the realization seemed to sear her to her very core.

Chapter Ten

Just wonderful. Rosie rubbed her temples with her fingers then eyed the damage to the barrel. She lifted a boot away from the edge of the puddle of ale.

“First you, um...” Rosie gestured at Adam’s stomach.

“Fall on a knife,” he finished for her with a smirk.

“And now this.” She thrust a hand at the cracked barrel.

“The others are intact.” He tried to keep his tone light when he shoved an undamaged barrel with a foot.

He didn’t feel ‘light’, however. His jaw hurt from tensing it. Someone had broken into the inn’s cellar overnight and damaged one of the barrels. Ale flooded the dirt floor though most of it had soaked into the dirt at this point. Whenever it occurred, it must have been in the early hours as they had both been up late, preparing for the next day. However, he didn’t want to scare Rosie with talk of someone sneaking around at night.

“I highly doubt my...knife incident is related,” he offered.

“Yes but now on top of having a potential murderer as a customer, I have someone wishing to sabotage me.”

“It’s bound to be Gerald.”

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