Page 59 of The Trouble with Tigers
Kitty didn’t appear to have noticed him. “Zeke? Why did you”—she swallowed—“do that?”
Because I’m an idiot who couldn’t leave well enough alone.He attempted a smile that felt more like a grimace. God, he hated himself in that moment.
“Why did I kiss you? Have you never surrendered a harmless kiss as penalty for losing a parlor game?” In self-defense, or maybe self-recrimination, he wielded his supercilious tone like a knife, knowing it would put her off him for good.
Hurt flashed in her eyes.
“Plus, we had an audience to impress.”
Her eyes widened in horror before her gaze shot to the doorway. She took a step back, wobbling a bit when her legs collided with her chair. “Who?” she choked.
“Who else? Who better?”
She covered her lips with shaking fingers.
“Dear cousin James. His seeing us in a passionate embrace can only aid your cause.”
Icy green fire lit her eyes. “I suppose I should thank you, then?”
“That’s not necessary.”
“You are intolerable,” she hissed.
He chuckled, even as his gut clenched with an aching need to pull Kitty into his arms and kiss away her ire.
Without another word, she fisted up her skirts and flounced from the room.
He stared for a moment at the empty doorway, then a humorless smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.
Good for her. Come to think of it, good for him. Now maybe she’d keep her guard up around him. Maybe she’d resist looking at him with those guileless eyes, stop plaguing him with that honeyed voice. Maybe she’d lose all her softness and sweetness and ability to wriggle her way under his skin like he hadn’t allowed any woman to do, ever.
Hell. He wasn’t being fair and he knew it.
He strode toward the wall cabinet and unearthed the earl’s brandy decanter. He poured himself a healthy portion— then added another splash for good measure
She hadn’t broached the subject of her family, hadn’t intended for her words to reach inside him and wreak havoc on his emotions. What was it about her? Why did she test his self-control?
He downed a large swallow of the expensive brandy like it was swill. He was a player in this charade as a favor to the earl, damn it. Seducing Kitty was not part of the deal. He would not touch her again, whatever the cost.
***
Kitty entered the breakfast room and scanned the faces of those present. Lady Lillian, the earl, Garrick. No sign of Zeke. Again.
For the past two days he’d made himself scarce with the sole exception of appearing for the evening meal, and that was for Garrick’s benefit no doubt. They mustn’t appear disinterested in each other. Oh, no, not that.
His frequent absences were for the best. She lost her mind around him, went all weak-kneed, and according to the man himself, stared.
“Good morning, everyone.”
A round of good mornings followed as she marched to the sideboard to fill her plate. Even Garrick issued a polite greeting.
Surprising. Contrary to the plan, the marriage contract between she and Zeke hadn’t improved Garrick’s attitude at all. If anything, he seemed more hostile. More dangerous. Not that he’d said or done anything specific.
It was there in his eyes. A silent threat directed at her when no one else was watching. The cold, stillness in his dark gaze reminded her of a snake, lying in wait in the grass. He wanted her to know he hadn’t given up. Was, in fact, only biding his time.
So long as she never allowed him to catch her alone, she’d weather this storm. Five months to go now. Less. She could outlast him. She chose a seat near the earl, who had his nose deep in a copy of theTimes.
“Anything interesting, my lord?”
