Page 22 of Lady Gambit
He took a hesitant step back and beckoned her to join him in the seating area. “If I may be so bold, you should make yourself presentable. It doesn’t matter to me. I fear you would look lovely in a grain sack. But one is better equipped to deal with difficult situations when looking one’s best.”
She tried to focus on his logical statement but could think of nothing other than he thought she looked lovely. “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll need my wits when I see Aaron.”
“We all will,” he said with a humourless chuckle.
While alone, she’d been consumed with the notion of vengeance. Someone would pay for hurting Theo. But who? And how might she achieve the impossible? How might she persuade her brothers to allow her to help?
“I shall protect you, sir.”
His gaze fell to her lips. “You don’t need to do that.”
“It’s the least I can do after all you have done.”
Ten feet separated them, but the magnetic pull of attraction was too strong to ignore. They both took a step forward. Unspoken words hung in the air. The need to understand whysome people passed through one’s life unnoticed. Why, on a rare occasion, a stranger sent one’s world spinning.
Her cheeks grew warm. “I should attend to my hair.”
He stiffened as she closed the gap between them. “I shall send Mrs James to your room and await your brother in my study.”
She stopped a mere foot away from him, close enough to catch one last whiff of his shaving soap. “You were right. Aaron will not permit me to stay here.” For all the will in the world, how could she argue with a grieving man? “I doubt we will see each other again, Mr Flynn. Not alone, at any rate.”
His dark gaze moved over her face as if locking the image in his memory. “It’s unlikely our paths will ever cross,” he agreed.
A deep regret filled her chest. “I wish you every happiness.”
The lady who captured his heart would want for nothing.
“Have faith, Miss Chance. Life is never as bad as it seems. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.”
“Heraclitus,” she said, recognising the quote.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Yes. I’m impressed.”
“I spend an awful lot of time at the circulating library.” Books were her solace. A place where she might live many lives without ever leaving Fortune’s Den. “Perhaps one day the catalogue of tragedies will make sense.”
He held her gaze, the power of it sending her pulse soaring. “I tell myself the same thing often. Misfortune must count for something.”
“Let’s pray there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon soon.” She stole one last look at his muscular physique, knowing she had to leave before she said something foolish. Something she could not take back. “Goodbye, Mr Flynn.”
His breathing quickened. “Goodbye, Miss Chance.”
She had taken no more than a step towards the door when he wrapped his firm fingers around her wrist to stall her. Hispiercing brown eyes were upon hers again, searching, seeking, for what she had no clue.
When he spoke, his voice was deep and husky. “Despite all thoughts to the contrary, I find I cannot let you leave. Not yet. Not without knowing the taste of your lips.”
She blinked, wondering if she’d misheard. “Oh!”
He exhaled deeply and seemed annoyed with himself. “This is where you tug your arm free. Where you tell me no respectable man would say such a thing to a lady. Where you refuse to speak to me again and race out of the room, affronted.”
She did nothing. Said nothing.
How could she?
This was the most thrilling moment of her life.
“Heed my warning. You have three seconds to refuse me, madam. Three seconds before my resolve snaps and I feed this damnable craving.”
She counted silently, but curiosity got the better of her before she reached two. Unable to wait, she gripped his coat lapels and pressed her mouth to his.
