Page 62 of Beauty and the Rake
“I could never get bored if you’re with me. You believe in living life to the fullest. That’s one of the things I love about you.”
“That’s all?” he mocked.
“Well, I do love your spontaneity. It’s rare in a man.”
It was true. Graham did have some unique characteristics. He loved to do things on the spur of the moment, finding it unnecessary to always plan things out. And while a good majority of men thought women didn’t have a head for anything outside of the household and should stay there, Graham treated her as though she were an equal. At least life with Graham wasn’t going to be boring.
“I suppose the spontaneity is left over from my days as a rake,” he said with a devilish gleam in his eyes.
“So you admit to it!”
He chuckled. “Admit to what?”
“That you were a rake.”
“All men are rakes, in one form or fashion. Most, though, grow out of it.”
“So you say,” she said.
“Yes, in fact, we should do something that’ll throw people off balance.”
“Such as?”
“Let me give it some thought.”
Roxanne began removing the jewelry and carefully putting it back in the boxes when Graham started smiling.
“I know what we can do! We can go to the park and take Mary for a walk in her pram.”
“That’ll sure get people gossiping,” she replied.
“Well? Shall we do it?”
“Yes!”
He had a smug grin on his face. He loved her willingness to try things ordinary women would never try because it was something society might disapprove of.
A soft knock on the door redirected their attention. Graham stood and neared the door when Roxanne called out to him.
“You are going to cover yourself, aren’t you? You’re not going to answer the door naked?”
“Why not? No one should be there. I instructed our meals be left at the door, that I would take care of the rest.”
She shook her head and took a deep breath, afraid she might burst out laughing. “Someone might be in the shadows, thinking you’ll answer the door with no clothes.”
“If it’s a show they want, it’s a show they’ll get,” he said. He had a devilish grin pasted on his face. Being bold obviously was left over from his earlier days after university.
Roxanne stood and, with a sheet around her, walked into the bed chamber so if there was someone at the door, they wouldn’t get an eyeful. She strained to see if there was someone present, but all she heard was Graham mumbling to himself and the door shutting.
“You can come out. Dinner has arrived.”
She came out of her hiding spot and reentered the room. He was standing over a tray he’d just placed on a small round mahogany table.
“That smells heavenly,” she said. She walked to the table where Graham handed her a plate.
“Cook’s rosemary chicken. It’s one of my favorites.”
“Apples, pears, cheese, bread, wine. Everything we need.”
