Page 107 of Her Beast

“Good evening, Miss Julia.”

“What is it?” Malcolm said, inexplicably testy all of a sudden.

“Er, Mr. Smith is here, sir.”

Malcolm blinked; Smith visiting? How unusual.

He turned to Julia, who’d perked up visibly at the prospect of a visitor.

“Did he need a word alone?” he asked.

“Actually, he indicated he’d like to meet your, er, guest, sir.”

Why, the nosy bugger!

“He wants to meet me?” Julia demanded, wide-eyed.

Malcolm turned to Butkins. “Show him in.”

“Very good, sir.”

The door had barely closed when Julia said, “Who is Mr. Smith?”

“He is an old friend—my oldest friend, in fact.” That was the truth and far easier than explainingwhoSmith was. Especially when Malcolm was never quite sure.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell him you’ve kidnapped me?”

“He already knows.”

Rather than look disappointed, she looked delighted. “Ah, a conspirator?”

Malcolm laughed. “No, I’m afraid this is all my doing.”

“But he must be agoodfriend if you share your criminal activities with him?”

Fortunately, the door opened just then and the Smith himself entered, sparing Malcolm from further questioning.

Chapter 22

Julia knew that she should excuse herself so the men could socialize privately, but she was positively on fire with curiosity to know what Malcolm Barton’s oldest friend was like.

You’re burning to knoweverythingabout your captor.

That was true and she refused to be ashamed.

Julia’s attention was riveted to Malcolm while he greeted his friend—whom he towered over, just like he did everyone—his open, affectionate smile filling her with a sense of almost unbearable yearning.

I want him to look at me that way, she suddenly realized.

Malcolm turned to Julia. “Julia, this is Mr. Smith. Smith, this is Miss Julia Harlow.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Harlow,” Mr. Smith said, imbuing the common salutation with genuine meaning as he bowed over her hand, his dark eyes glinting with a knowing look that made her blush for some reason.

“Thank you,” Julia mumbled, oddly flustered by the man.

“Can I get you something to drink, Smith?” Malcolm asked.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

---