Page 54 of Midnight Conquest

He tilted his head, that maddening dimple cutting into his cheek. “Thoughts come to me like words on the wind,” he said, voice smooth as cream. “I can hear most of what’s bein’ thought, but emotions give me more context. The closer I get to someone…”

He crossed the room in a few lazy steps, closing the space between them until he stood directly in front of her.

“…the louder and clearer those thoughts become.”

Davina’s breath caught. The heat radiating from him warmed her skin, clouding her thoughts.

She didn’t move.

“And when I touch someone…” He reached for her hand again, his rough fingers brushing against her knuckles, sending a jolt of awareness through her. He turned her hand over, his thumb tracing a slow circle over her wrist. “That’s when I can delve deeper.”

Her pulse hammered beneath his caress, her mind spinning. His voice, his nearness, the way his thumb moved in that hypnotic rhythm—her knees threatened to buckle.

“So,” she said, her voice trembling, “extending your hand in greeting to the suitor will give you that contact?”

He nodded, his grin never faltering. “Exactly.”

Davina’s heart raced, but her thoughts kept slipping—to the strength of his hands, the way his voice wrapped around her like a plush comforter. She needed to pull herself together.

“However, for someone like yerself…” Broderick moved away, his strides unhurried, every motion calculated, it seemed. “I cannae delve into their thoughts if they’ve a strong will to guard them. Keep yer mind open to me, Blossom, or I cannae help.”

That nickname. So simple. And yet it sent a shiver through her, an intimate tug somewhere deep in her belly. Almost as much as the way he moved. He leaned against the desk, planting himself on the edge with a lazy confidence that made her insides twist. His hands braced on either side of his lean hips, his long legs stretched out before him like a man completely in control.

Davina tried to focus on his words, but her gaze betrayed her. It wandered—traced the powerful lines of his thighs beneath his breeches, the way the dark-green linen of his shirt clung to his chest and arms, the relaxed command in his posture. When her eyes met his, the glint of emerald and his infuriatingly cocky grin shattered her trance.

Her cheeks flamed. She looked away, cursing herself for beingso transparent.

“So,” he drawled, amusement thick in his voice, “what’s the plan, lass?”

Davina squared her shoulders, willing herself to ignore the heat creeping up her neck. “The plan,” she said briskly, “is to have you present for the introductions. I want you to get a feel for the suitors—hear their thoughts, gauge their intentions. I’ll allow some time for conversation over tea, but I want you close enough to feed me whatever you can glean.”

Broderick nodded, still watching her with that damned smirk. “And what will ye be doing while I’m digging around in their heads?”

“Trying to keep my mind open to you while I get to know them.” She resumed her habit of pacing. “Engaging in small talk. Finding out what motivates them.” Her thoughts began to tumble over one another as the plan took shape. “I’ll need you to pay attention to how they react to me. If they seem to like me, I want to knowwhy. Whatever they find appealing, I’ll downplay.”

Broderick chuckled softly. “Clever.”

She ignored the warmth his praise stirred in her and continued, her pacing quickening as her thoughts flowed. “If we don’t find anything worth exploiting, I’ll bring up topics that make men nervous—politics, business strategy, things they don’t expect a woman to discuss. It’ll give me a sense of how they manage a woman who doesn’t fit their expectations.”

Broderick nodded. “And if I hear something useful, I’ll prompt ye to ask questions.”

Davina found herself nodding, impressed despite herself. “Aye, a perfect idea.”

The grin on his face made her self-conscious, and her defenses rose instinctively. Was he laughing at her? Did he think this planwas foolish? She pressed her lips into a thin line, her walls snapping into place.

Broderick noticed. He always noticed. He stepped closer, his presence enveloping her as he took her hand in his. His thumb brushed lightly over her wrist, and she fought to steady her breathing. “Listen, lass. I’m not grinnin’ because I think ye’re a fool. Far from it. Trust me.”

Davina swallowed hard, her gaze locked on his.

“I admire ye, Davina. Ye’re one of the most intelligent women I’ve ever met. Ye wouldn’t be able to run yer father’s business if ye were a simpleton or a mindless girl who obeyed a man’s every command.” His eyes searched hers, his sincerity undeniable. “To be sure, ye’re intimidatin’. To most men, anyway.”

She scoffed, pulling her hand from his grasp. “Hardly intimidating.”

Broderick arched a brow. “Och, aye? Then why do the men in yer life keep tryin’ tae dominate ye? Based on the memories I gleaned from ye last time we met—yer uncle, yer father, yer brother…especially yer husband. They all tried to control ye because theyfearedye.”

Davina’s lips parted. “Feared? You’re mental.”

Broderick chuckled. “Most women are subservient. They dinnae question a man’s authority. But you? Look at ye.” He nodded toward her, a playful grin spreading across his rugged face. “That chin o’ yers, juttin’ forward in defiance. Ye dinnae bow to anyone. And that, lass, sets men into a rage. Because ye make ’em look bad. Instead of risin’ up tae meet ye, they try tae drag ye down. Ye’ve no idea the power ye hold over men. Men dinnae like to feel weak, and they’ll beat down anyone who stokes it in their soul.”

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