Page 11 of Gentleman's Anger
“Romance novels mostly. You?” she asks.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I also read romance novels.” She grins then, but not in a way that she’s making fun of me.
“Really?” she says, excitedly. She moves off of me and sits on the bed with her legs crossed in front of her. “What are you reading right now?”
“I’ve never told anyone that before. You are sworn to secrecy.”
“I would never tell anyone, Logan. I promise.” Then she makes an X over her heart. She’s adorable. Sexy and adorable, it’s a heady combination. I move to sit up. I clasp her hand in mine and bring it to my lips, placing a kiss on the back of her hand.
“Thank you. I am reading two, currently. One on my Kindle and one paperback.”
“Two. That’s what I do. Except one on my Kindle and one on Audible.”
“I haven’t ventured into Audible yet. So the e-book I’m reading isStirby ChaShiree M. and the paperback isThe Duke’s Debauched Duchessby Celeste Monroe.” She claps her hands excitedly. I get it. I might be the steamiest historical romance novel I’ve ever read.
“Really? It’s so good right? I know Celeste. It’s her penname, but you know her too, actually.”
“Are you telling me that Holly Fraser is Celeste Monroe?”
“Yes. You can’t tell anyone though. She hasn’t even told her parents.”
“She better. Isn’t being made into a movie?”
“Yes. Pre-production is already under way. Filming starts in May.” My eyes widen, realization dawning on me.
“Are you going to be the Duchess of Stoke-on-Trent?”
“I am. It hasn’t been announced yet. That’s in April.”
“Who’s the duke?” I ask before I can stop myself. I vividly remember the scene in the apple orchard on the ducal estate. There’s no way that’s not going to be in the movie.
“He hasn’t been cast yet. I did chemistry readings, but nothing was good enough.”
“Hmm…”
“Why?”
“No reason. Tell me what your reading,” I say, changing the subject. No one else is going to be that fucking duke but me. My first phone call tomorrow is to my agent. I wouldn’t be the first athlete to step in front of the camera. In fact, I was asked to be in movie last year but turned it down. Patience doesn’t have to worry about chemistry with another person because it’s all right here.
“Oh, I’m readingIt Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover and listening toFifty Shades of Grey.”
“Nice,” I say having read both of those.
The clock chimes and for the first time since we’ve been here, I hear it. I look over at it and realize it’s four o’clock in the morning. The quartet has long since stopped playing but music is still playing softly.
“Holy shit,” I say.
“Have we been making love for eight hours?” she asks, worrying her bottom lip.
“We have.”
“I’ve never lost track of this much time before,” she says as her stomach growls.
“Come home with me. Let me feed you.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
We get out of bed. I dress quickly so that I can help her put her gown to rights. I cinch her into it and take her hand. Out in the main room, there are still a few people milling around, but it’s safe to say that the Crisis is over. We walk over to the curtains, and they part. I return the key to the Green Salon and step into the room to the left to get my phone. She does the same. As we are getting ready to leave, Holly and Jimmy come into the room. Jimmy’s waistcoat is open and his coat is slung over his shoulder. Holly’s dress looks wrinkled, but no worse for the wear. Her hair however is another story. Telltale bed head, much like Patience. She tried to fix it, but instead put it in a loose ponytail. They take one look at each other and then point and laugh.
