Page 25 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“Why would you wish to offend me?”
The corner of his scarred mouth pulled up ina self-deprecating half smirk, as if he were equal parts amused,and ashamed.
“If I told you, it would frighten you and asI’ve already insulted your person, I think I’ll keep my reasons tomyself.” His tone made her curious. “Will you accept myapology?”
She gave him a peculiar look, unsure what hemeant that he would frighten her. But then, she nodded.
“Apology accepted, Mr. Archer.”
“Call me Jack.”
“I will not.”
“You could, though,” he said, a hint ofamusement in his tone. “And if we are to be friends, I think Iwould like to be on a first name basis with you. If you don’tmind.”
“Very well,” she said unconvinced.
They walked the rest of the way home in acomfortable quiet. It seemed they would be friends, though Meredithwasn’t sure why she had told him she wanted to do so, only that ifshe told him how she truly felt, he’d probably insult her again. Itdidn’t matter anyway. She obviously couldn’t trust herself aroundhim and the wordfriendhad seemed to have a strange,placating effect on him. Just then, Daniel came bounding aroundthem, riding on the back of Drachma.
“Daniel!” she said, temporarily distracted.“Get down from there! Your mama would faint if she saw you!”
“I’m sorry,” the boy said with glee as thehorse moved back and forth in a sort of dance. “I couldn’t helpmyself. He’s such a good boy.”
Dash barked, evidently used to hearing thephrase.
“You may come to ride him anytime you’dlike. That is, when I’m not in need of him.”
Daniel’s smile widened at Jack’s words andhe swung off the animal in a single motion. He grabbed the reinsand walked back to Meredith and Jack. He handed them over.
“Thank you for not being angry, Uncle Jack.I hope you do come to Mountebank’s, like Mama said. He has a wholestable full of racing horses, you know. It would be a smashing timeif we all went for a ride.”
Daniel nodded and ran towards the house.Meredith went to go after him as she so often did whenever he beganto run, but she paused for a moment and gazed back at Jack. Henodded at her and she wasn’t sure if he was dismissing her or iftheir conversation was over, but she turned back to the house,unsure about her choice in befriending him.
Chapter Six
Crack!
Jack reeled back from the hit to his jaw, aswhite and black sparks flashed before his eyes. The pain radiatingthrough his cheek was familiar and he was grateful for the achingsensation. Anything that could be used to distract him these lastfew weeks had been a welcomed diversion. Ever since he had escortedMeredith home, Jack had found that his mind was under constantassault. Where she was and what she was doing. If he should rideover to Simon’s to discuss work, if only to catch a glimpse of her.What she might be wearing, and if that staunch lace collar wasbuttoned up all the way to her chin, or if perhaps she had doneaway with it.
It had been a bloody nightmare.
Work, which usually held his interest enoughto negate all else, barely held his attention these days. He foundhimself reciting the words she had said to him, repeating them inhis head like some familiar tavern song he had learned in hisyouth.
She wanted to be his friend. Her declarationhad certainly surprised him. No one had ever said such a thing tohim. He had acquaintances, to be sure, and there were plenty ofsparing partners, business people who he knew of, and, of course,Simon, but he had never heard of a lady befriending a man,certainly not a man like him.
And what’s more, he didn’t exactly want tobe her friend. He didn’t think of her that way, even if he did findhimself admitting things to her that he would never admit to anyoneelse. Still, Jack wanted to be much more than that, but—
Swoosh! A fist nearly slammed intothe side of his head.
Damn it, pay attention. He put hishands up, fists curled on either side of his head. That right hookbarely missed him. He needed to focus on the matter at hand.
The young man that had hit him, FranklinWeathers, came forward, dropping his hands to try a double bodyshot, but Jack was too quick. Rolling left on his feet, he twistedto come behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, taking severalsteps back as a flash of annoyance crossed Franklin’s face.
“Protect your head!” Jack barked at him asthe youth came forward.
Franklin pulled his hands up again, caginghis face as he glared at Jack.
“Pay attention, lad!” a burly, bald mannamed Bishop yelled. “Watch your feet!”
