Page 70 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
“I do.”
“Good enough.” Finn released the man. “Now get out of her sight. Before I change my mind.”
Darting from Finn’s reach, the viscount looked as if he might actually break into a sprint as he rushed back to the ballroom.
Finn gently took her hand. “The rotter didn’t hurt ye, did he?”
“No.” She met his questioning gaze. “Sadly, he did cause me to waste a glass of perfectly fine champagne.”
“That can be easily rectified.” His brow furrowed as he studied her face. “Ye should not have come out here by yerself.”
“All I wanted was a bit of peace.” She sighed. “A few moments to myself after the fiasco of this evening.”
“If the bastard had gotten ye alone...” Rubbing the back of his neck as if it suddenly ached, Finn broke off the thought.
“I do believe I could have handled the likes of him.”
“Do ye now?” Finn sent her a little scowl. “Surely ye know what the likes of a cur like that is capable of.”
“I would not have let it go much further. My brother has shown me certain ways to defend myself if the need should arise.”
With a gentle touch, he cupped her face in his hands. “Ye may have been able to keep the bastard at bay. But given time, he may have hurt ye.” Macie’s breath caught as he traced his thumb along the curve of her chin. “Ye must trust me to protect ye.”
“I have no doubt that you will.” She hiked her chin, unwilling to show the surge of emotions swirling between her heart and her mind. “You have a task—protect the heiress, even from herself. And you’re ever so dedicated to seeing that task through.”
He set his jaw. “Ye don’t make it easy, lass.”
“Should I?” She folded her arms and regarded him for a long, silent moment. “I’d think a man like you would relish a challenge.”
“I am beginning to think challenges are overrated.”
She narrowed her eyes, flashing a brief scowl. “Such as the Herculean challenge of pretending to see me as something more than an heiress in need of a bodyguard?”
“Ah, yer blasted game.” His expression went cold. “If ye wanted a performance, ye should have found a bloody thespian.”
A performance.
His words stung, but she squared her shoulders and forced a cool tone. “I simply do not understand why you must be so very distant. No one would believe you were anything other than a brawny chaperone.”
“Ye think not?”
“I’m quite positive. You’ve mastered the art of playing the vigilant protector. But tonight—even more than most nights—you’ve been so cold. It seems all you could do to even touch my hand.” She pulled in a breath. “Can you deny it?”
He raked a hand though his hair. Meeting her gaze, his eyes gleamed with an unfamiliar intensity, even as a slight, wry smile played on his mouth. “Cold?” Slowly he shook his head. “I’m ablasted better actor than I thought. God above, lass, can ye really tell me ye haven’t felt it?”
She nibbled her lip. “Finn, what are you saying?”
“What I’m saying, Macie, is this.” Finn’s voice was low and edged with gravel. “Ye’re beautiful, lass. So blasted beautiful, a man like me doesn’t even have the words to tell ye... all night, I’ve wanted to do this.” He caught her hands in his. His smile broadening, he pulled her close. “I want to kiss ye, Macie.”
She met the fire in his eyes. A flame of her own kindled deep within her as she ran her fingers through the silky strands of his hair. “Do you, now?”
He held her to his long, lean body. His warmth was a potent elixir, a delicious heat that seemed a caress. Brushing his lips along the sensitive curve of her cheek, he whispered against her ear. “More than ye could ever know, my sweet lass.”
She looked into his eyes, drinking in the passion in their amber depths. Raising up on her toes, she coiled her arms around his neck. “I believe I would like that... I want you to kiss me.”
That. And more.
“I want to make ye wild for me, darling Macie.” He pressed a fleeting caress to her lips. Light and sweet and tender. “Believe when I say this, lass,” The light in his eyes kindled a delicious heat as he took her hand and led her to the gardens. “Tonight is only the beginning.”
