Page 76 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

He laughed. “You can’t be serious?”

Her icy glare told him otherwise, and to prove her point, she climbed up on the mattress. With wobbly steps, she reached up to tuck the blanket into one end in canopy’s frame.

Tilting precariously, she stretched, perhaps a little too far, and he raced up, catching her before she stumbled and fell to the floor. Her back pressed into his chest, and in his haste to right her, although his right arm looped around her waist, his left hand latched onto something soft and very familiar.

She froze against him. He could almost feel the chill coming from her body.

“Unhand me.” Imbued with more than anger, she croaked the words as if she were in pain.

Releasing her breast, he spun her around, needing to see into her eyes to be certain. “What is it? More than my misplaced hand.”

The trembling in her voice vanished. “Misplaced? You manhandled me!”

“It wasn’t intentional. You were going to fall.”

“A likely story.”

“Is this because of Davies? What you don’t want to talk about? Because I amnothim. Get that through your stubborn head.”

She eyed him for a moment, then nodded.

When she started to climb back onto the mattress, he tuggedthe blanket from her hands. “Allow me.” Although the mattress sagged beneath him, he kept his balance, and his height made it easier to reach the frame. “And don’t flatter yourself. It’s not like I can’t keep my hands off you. You’re notthattempting.”

Liar.

With both of the blanket’s ends secured, a curtain formed in the middle of the bed, neatly dividing it in two.

Simon jumped down, placed his hands on his hips, and said, “Now, if you don’t wish to view my nakedness, I suggest you move to the other side.”

With a sound harrumph, she turned to do just that, but he caught her arm.

“But first, what about your promise to give me a chance?”

Miss Haughtiness jerked her chin at him. “What do you suggest? If it’s anything that involves removing clothing, I politely decline.”

“Politely! Ha! You wouldn’t know politely if it bit you on the—” Speaking of biting, he bit his tongue. She could rile him like no other. He was a congenial fellow, really he was. He blew out an exasperated breath. “At least give me a kiss goodnight. It’s no more than we did last night.”

Why he bothered to ask would forever remain a mystery. The hostility on her face would mean it would be like kissing a marble statue.

“I have an idea,” she said.

His normally eager-for-adventure mind screeched to a halt. This was Charlotte, after all. He canted his body away from her. “What kind of idea?”

“We never finished our card game. You win, you get a kiss. I win, I ask a question.”

The glint in her eyes should have made him nervous. But he had a secret weapon.

If necessary, he would cheat.

Charlotte studiedher atrocious hand of cards. Fifteen! Could it be any worse? Possibly, but not much. Should she ask for another card? Simon had appeared pleased when viewing his hand, giving the slightest upward twitch of his lips. When Nash taught her to play, he called them tells. To Charlotte’s knowledge, the only woman who was a more proficient card player was Lady Miranda. Charlotte had always requested Miranda as a partner for whist, and they rarely lost.

What would Miranda do in this situation?

“Well?” Simon said, perhaps a little too impatiently. “Do you want another card?”

“I’m thinking.” A difficult task considering the man sat half-naked before her. The hard planes of his chest, covered with a curious smattering of dark hair, constantly drew her attention.

“You can count, can’t you? It’s rather simple. If need be, remove your slippers and use your toes.”

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