Page 16 of If the Slipper Fits
“An over-dramatization, perhaps.” He shrugged and closed the distance between them, cocooning her in shadow as his height and the breadth of his shoulders blocked much of the meager light from the lamps lining the corridor.
She shivered, though not from cold. The palpable heat of his body encircled her, and carried with it an intriguing scent of spice and essence of pure male.
She tilted her head back to regard him. Though her breathing had gone choppy at his arrival—from fright, she told herself, she managed an even-toned reply. “I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
His eyes narrowed and he tunneled a bare hand through his hair, rearranging the golden waves anew so that more of his thick mane stood on end.
His obvious discomfiture threatened to coax a smile out of her. She pressed her lips together.
“I see. And now I’m the brute who’s hunted you down and dragged an apology from you.” He huffed in evident frustration.
Now she did giggle, though she quickly covered her outburst with a cough into her fist.
His eyes went to slits. “Are you…did you justlaugh?”
She shook her head, afraid she’d let loose with more giggles if she tried to speak.
“Youdid.”
A peel of laughter escaped her despite her best efforts. “I’m terribly sorry. It’s just, you appear quite vexed.”
“I am not vexed.”
“You clearly are.” She bit her inner cheek to stymie another giggle. He brought lightness to her spirit without even trying. He always had.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Assuming you’re correct, a point I am not conceding, by the by, why on earth would that amuse you?”
Her lips quivered. “I don’t know?”
His expression remained stern for half a heartbeat before an ear to ear grin split his face followed by a hardy laugh.
Shoulders shaking with silent mirth, she couldn’t resist asking, “Why areyoulaughing?”
He reigned in his humor and gave her a crooked smile. “Damned if I know. The same reason I was vexed, perhaps?” His expression sobered. “Because ofyou.”
“Me?”
He threw his hands in the air and paced away from her. “You. First you save me from certain suffocation in the muck—”
“—An over-dramatization.”
He barreled on as if she hadn’t spoken. “—then you make it crystal clear you want absolutely nothing to do with me.Me.
"Even so,I made a concerted, dare I saygallanteffort to offer my thanks by escorting you into dinner, while, I’ll add, warding off that blackguard, Lord Hardasher, and for no apparent reason you flee the scene with nary a care for your reputation or mine.”
Anna blinked and tried to digest his multi-faceted diatribe.
He steepled his fingers at his lips. “Everyone is sure to conclude I’m somehow to blame for your disappearance. Perhaps it would have been better for me to proceed, post haste, into the dining hall, but how could I in good conscience?”
“You couldn't go in to dinner because you were worried for my welfare and my reputation?”
“Mmm…yes.”
“But, by following me, you most likely caused more tongues to wag than if you had not?”
His pacing brought him toe to toe with her once more. His voice came out a masculine purr. “Is it any wonder I’m vexed?” His gaze roamed her face as if searching for answers, finally making an unsettling stop on her lips.
She fought the urge to moisten them with her tongue. Heat suffused her, limb to limb, concentrating low in her belly. “Allow me to reassure you, sir. I’m no one for anyone to remark upon.”
