Page 40 of Tempting the Highland Spy
“No, of course not.” Perhaps she would fight fire with fire. “It goes without saying you are not a eunuch. You have already demonstrated your prowess as a male of the species. And rather impressively, I might add.”
For a heartbeat, no longer, he regarded her silently. Only the slight widening of his eyes betrayed surprise at her words.
He cleared his throat with a dramatic flair. “As amale of the species, as you put it, I do feel an obligation to ably represent the others of my kind. It’s good to know I did not disappoint. However, that doesn’t change our current situation. Does it, now, Grace?”
Cotton filled her mouth, but she forced out the words. “Of course not. Like you, I’ve no desire to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
His eyes darkened, and for a blink, he glanced down to his feet. When he met her gaze again, his expression had changed. The teasing gleam was gone, replaced by a look of contemplation.
“I would not say that night was a mistake. Try as I might, I cannot bring myself to regret it.” Again, he plowed his long fingers through his burnished wheat strands. “But I meant what I said. I will not use this circumstance to my advantage.”
His softly spoken words, though meant to reassure, pierced her heart. It was unfair of him to play the gentleman. She didn’t want to like him. She didn’t want to care about him. It would be far easier for her if he were harsh and cutting, if he were a brute.
It would be far easier if she hated him.
Praying he couldn’t detect how her pulse had accelerated, she pulled in a breath. It wouldn’t do to betray the way he’d affected her. How ironic that his words of reassurance had triggered precisely the opposite reaction.
She plastered on a calm mask and met his eyes. “As I told you, I know how to take care of myself.”
Once again, he settled himself into the chair and stretched out his long legs. “With any luck, you won’t have cause to prove it.”
