Page 75 of Tempting the Highland Spy
“I see you dressed for the occasion.”
“What?” With one hand, she toyed with the ruffled cotton at her throat. “Oh, you mean this.”
“Admittedly, I am developing a taste for seeing you in cotton to your chin. What color is that?” He scrunched his eyes. “Blue?”
“It used to be,” she said. “It’s been laundered more times than I could hope to count.”
“Precisely the thing for the modest new bride.”
She dug her nails deeper into the pillow. The thought of pummeling him with it was growing more appealing. She’d envisioned creeping quietly into the room, slipping into bed noiselessly, and falling to sleep. It hadn’t occurred to her he’d be awake, and in the mood to tease her.
“It is precisely the thing for a woman who needs some sleep,” she countered.
“Then why are you still standing? There’s plenty of room here.”
“I thought…you’d be asleep.”
A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “As you can see, that is not the case. Does it matter? Truly?”
“It’s only that…” Her dratted tongue seemed to trip over the words. “After what happened tonight… I didn’t want to give you the wrong idea.”
His expression was deliberately bland. “And what idea might that be?”
“Come now, don’t pretend to be obtuse. We both know better than that.” She swallowed against the dryness in her throat. “This is not a ruse. Not an attempt at seduction.”
He plowed his hand through the bed-mussed strands of his hair. “I’d deduced as much.”
“You had?” She studied his face, searching for some hint that he was still teasing.
“Grace, we’re both adults. You’re a beautiful woman—if you were intent on seduction, you would not have worn a gown that’s essentially a cotton suit of armor.”
She folded her arms at the waist. Who was this infernal man to criticize the gown she’d sewn at Aunt Thelma’s side?
“It’s all I have,” she said truthfully. “Perhaps I should have asked Mrs. Carmichael to help me procure a more seductive nightdress. I’ll know better next time.”
Slowly—very slowly, with deliberate emphasis—he shook his head. “I wasn’t talking about another gown.”
“Then what…what do you mean?”
A wolfish grin played on his lips. “A woman as beautiful as you requires nothing beyond her own body to entice a man.”
She gulped. Oh, dear. She hadn’t considered that meaning, not at all. Nervously, she gulped again.
“Well, now that we’re clear on that,” she said finally.
“Get some sleep, Grace,” he said. “On my word as a gentleman, I’ve no plans to ravish you. God knows I’m too bloody tired to even kiss you.”
She placed her pillow on the bed and fluffed it. “Very well. I am also weary.”
“It’s been a long day.” He extinguished the light and lay on his back. “And a long night.”
Grace crawled under the covers, lying on her side. What a shame she hadn’t thought about the blanket. That fabric barrier had been rather effective. Not that she feared he’d go back on his word. Rather, she wanted to avoid all contact, lest she go back on hers.
In her mind’s eye, she pictured him as he’d been when she entered the room. He’d looked as if he hadn’t slept at all yet.
“Why were you still awake?” she whispered.
He shrugged against her. “The fact that you’re talking might have something to do with that.”
