Borderland Beauty by Samantha Holt

framing his striking face. Licking her dry lips as her heart slammed against her chest, she withdrew, but a floorboard creaked and his head snapped up.
    “Luce,” he said warmly as his expression softened.
    “Forgive me, I meant not to disturb you. I was looking for a book. Winnie said you had a fine collection.”
    His shoulders dropped as a crooked smile slid across his face. “Oh, aye. Over there.” He pointed to a bookcase in the corner of the room. “I am neglecting my guests, I know, and for that I apologise. Alas, I have spent time enough away from my duties as it is.”
    “Nay, ‘tis no matter. Your guests are content. I just have little ability to sit still for long.”
    “Indeed. Your mother said you were—”
    “An active lass. Aye, you said as much.” Her gaze fastened on to his and her chest constricted.  “Well, I’ll just…” Lucy sidled over to the bookcase, darting a wary look back at him. His eyes remained on her as he tapped the end of his quill against his chin and she tensed as a shudder of awareness trailed through her.
    She knew this was a mistake -- to be in such a confined space with him -- but she could not remain in the Great Hall without something to keep her occupied. With her parents gone, there was little for her to do, and the other female guests had given up trying to include her, mistaking her shyness for aloofness. She looked around briefly at the sizeable solar with its roaring fire and heavy red curtains. So mayhap it was not that confined, but she could not stop her gaze from falling on the canopied bed that occupied the back of the room. Dominic’s brows darted up, making her fully aware that he recognised where her thoughts were leading. She blushed and spun away, focusing on the books in front of her.
    Running a finger over the leather spines, she studied the titles. Dominic went back to his ledger, the faint sound of his quill scratching against the parchment setting her senses on edge. Some were well worn and she pictured Dominic thumbing through them. How odd that she could never have imagined him as a man that enjoyed scholarly pursuits before, but now the image suited him perfectly. Now she knew him better.
    “Tristan and Iseult…” she murmured. “I did not take you for a romantic soul.”
    “You think it a romance? I think it a tragedy.”
    Lucy stared at him. “A tragedy? Nay, dying for love must surely be the most romantic act of all.”
    “And here I did not think you a romantic soul. But now I know the key to your heart.”  Dominic regarded her with a twist of his lips. “I should die to secure it.”
    “My-my heart?”
    “I cannot deny I would wish to secure your body along with it, but I should very much like to capture your heart first.”
    She gulped. Her heart? Could he hear it pounding with his every word?  First he wanted her to believe that he lusted after her body -- a stretch of the imagination, aye, but mayhap he really did -- and now he expected her to believe he wanted her heart?
    “You-you are mocking me?”
    He sighed but his grin remained. “Do I look like I am jesting?”
    Grabbing the book, she clutched it to her chest as she studied him, as if the book could offer some form of protection against his bold stare. Indeed, in spite of the twitch of his lips, his eyes remained deadly serious.
    “Think you that I shall fall into your bed when you speak of my heart?”
    Releasing a mocking laugh, Dominic threw down his quill. She jolted back as his chair screeched and he stood abruptly, but he didn’t approach. Instead he came around the desk and perched on it, his arms crossed across his chest.
    “Nay, Lucy, I do not think you so simple as to come to my bed because of a few artless words. Indeed, I would prefer it you came to me without coercion or seduction. I would tear up our contract if I did not fear it would put an end to the scant hold I have over you.”
    She quivered at his words. Why did Dominic having a ‘hold’