Page 28 of Daisy and the Duke
Then Daisy rode up. “I do hope Stormer isn’t hurt!” she said, looking over the horse for damage.
“He’s fine. I simply needed an excuse to not ride at the head of the group.”
Daisy understood his unspoken point instantly, and covered her mouth to hide a smile. She looked behind her, but there was no one. “I will wait with you, if you don’t mind. I was last in the group, and alone anyway.”
“That’s a shame,” he said, helping her dismount. The pleasure of holding her waist as he lowered her to the ground made his hands linger there, feeling the soft velvet of her jacket. “You’re denying others your company.”
“They do not care for my company,” she retorted. “They all wish to be near you. Or plot and plan ways to make you notice them.”
“Your stepmother certainly prevented all others from an opportunity,” he said, again relieved that he’d evaded her.
“But I seem to have stumbled into one,” Daisy said with an impish smile.
“I’m glad.” He reached out and pulled her closer, using the bulk of the horses to hide them from prying eyes. “It’s near impossible to get a chance to see you without a dozen others lurking around.”
Daisy looked shy as she said, “I’ve spent more time alone with you than I have with any other man.”
“Good. I’d hate to have to hunt someone down.”
“Tristan!” she objected, alarmed.
“What? I’m jealous of the very idea.”
“There’s absolutely no reason to be. No one is courting me.”
“What is wrong with the men in this county?” Tristan muttered. It had been days since he’d escorted her home in the carriage, and learned exactly how good it felt to kiss her, and how much he wanted to be with her for a much longer time.
Now, he took the opportunity to lean down for a kiss, hoping to rekindle the feelings he remembered so well from the carriage ride.
Daisy’s lips were just as soft as before, and after a little sound of surprise, she opened her mouth and let him deepen the kiss.
Oh, this was not going to be enough. Tristan drew out the kiss as long as he could, feeling very annoyed that breathing was so essential to life. He pulled back to get his breath.
Her eyes opened, and she regarded him in a dazed, delighted way. “Why did you do that?” she asked, blinking slowly, as if coming out of a dream.
Because you’re irresistible, he wanted to say. But the words stuck in his throat, because he heard something else…distant hoofbeats.
“Damn it,” he swore under his breath. He stepped back and looked Daisy over. She was wearing velvet, and the imprints of his hands were all over the fabric. Like evidence of a crime.
He ran his hands over her, smoothing away the marks into long streaks.
Daisy looked down and gasped, realizing the problem. She pushed his hands away and completed the job herself, quickly erasing all his touches. Then she smoothed her hair and straightened her jacket, obviously worried. “Do I look all right?” she whispered.
“Beautiful,” he replied instantly.
“I mean…”
“No one would guess,” he corrected, then looked to where the sound of hooves was coming from. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was only Jack.
But no, it was notonlyJack. Bella Merriot rode beside him. If she suspected that Tristan was just ravishing her stepsister, it was likely that the news would make it to the baroness in less than an hour. And Tristan did not want that.
Putting on his blandest expression, he hailed Jack.
His friend came to a halt nearby, clever eyes taking in the scene and silently questioning Tristan about his intentions. But Tristan gave nothing away and seized on a more obvious question.
“How is the ride for you?” he asked. “I see you’re not exactly pressing your mount.”
“I’m well,” Jack said, though Tris could see a pallor in his skin that hadn’t been there this morning. “Miss Bella has been most tolerant of my slowness.”
