Page 46 of If the Slipper Fits
“Because you were meant for something more. Anna,” he began gently, “if it’s money you need—”
“No.” She grasped the door lever and looked over her shoulder at him with stern eyes. “Get this through your thick skull, Caden Thurgood. I require neither your money nor your assistance. I shall live my life as I see fit. Regardless of how pleasant seeing you again has been, nothing of my circumstance has changed, nor do I wish it to.”
“Pleasant,” he aped in a neutral tone, nodding. Ironically, he’d said similar words to women over the years. He’d had no notion how much the rejection, however nicely phrased, stung.
He ought to be thanking his lucky stars she’d stuck to her guns. Hadn’t that kiss convinced him that keeping his distance was the only possible course? Spending time together would only fuel the carnal desire that flowed like lava, like air, between them. Too dangerous—for him at any rate.
If he made love with Anna he’d likely be marked for life. Meanwhile she seemed to content to walk away at party’s end, never to see him again.
He glanced around the room. Spotted his discarded gloves and the abandoned game card. He stalked over, snatched up both and proceeded to re-don the kidskin gloves with meticulous attention. Anything to avoid looking at her.
From the corner of his eye he saw her turn her back to the door.
“Caden, it has meant the world to me to see you again.”
He snorted. Now she meant to let him down easy? This was too rich.
“Your kindness—”
“—Enough. You don’t want my help and you want to be left alone. I don’t foresee a problem, Mrs. Jones. Shall we rejoin the others? I have an idea where we might find a few additional items along the way, if you’d like to make a good showing.”
He closed the distance between them and reached around her to open the heavy door. “After you?”
She lay a hand on his forearm. He bit back a curse as his entire body clenched with need.
“Please believe me. You don’t want to get tangled up in my life, Caden. It would only cause you trouble.”
He sent her a crooked smile. “Duly noted. Shall we?”
She searched his face a long moment. Finally she nodded and stepped into the empty corridor.
A sinking feeling settled in his gut, like he’d gambled all he had on a weak hand and lost. But he hadn’t. That was the point. He was walking away as surely as she. If only he could keep that straight in his head.
Chapter Ten
True to his word, Caden located two more items on the game card as they made their way back to the grand parlor. Not that it led to any spirit of frivolity.
Anna made a pretense of enjoying the escapade—at first. Caden did not. By the time they reached the front half of the manse, the very air between them crackled with tension.
She wanted nothing so much as to kick him in the shins. She had hoped to revel in the memory of this last interaction between them for years to come.
Caden with his sullen attitude had ruined everything.
So she’d pricked his male pride by refusing his gallant offer of help. He’d done the same to her—with that kiss.
For her the kiss had been magical, bone-melting, heart-stopping.
He'd sprung away from her as if suddenly realizing she carried the plague. One minute he couldn’t draw her close enough, the next he shot across the room like lightning.
Had she done it wrong?She must’ve done.
She glared at his hard, gorgeous profile. She’d hurt him by not allowing him to sweep in and save the day, had she? Well, he’d hurt her by his rejection of her very femininity.
And she mustn’t forget that snide comment about how very much she seemed to have enjoyed his kiss.
“I take it the game is won,” Caden offered dryly.
Busy steaming, she’d neglected to notice the entrance to the grand parlor in eye shot. It appeared most of the other guests had reconvened. Excited chatter and revelry spilled out of the large chamber to echo down the corridor.
