Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina Page A

increased.”
    She took a quick, tight breath. “A gentleman wouldn’t take advantage of a lady and bribe her for a kiss.”
    â€œYou made it necessary to kiss you. I was undone.” The overgrown boy grinned down at her. “Vixen.”
    To her utter despair, Sophie felt a chuckle tickling her throat. Despite the ridiculousness of his statement, it was impossible to keep a straight face. She looked away, anxiously checking the lane at the end of the horse path that ran along the side of her schoolhouse, not wanting anyone to see them standing together. At least, with the door half-closed, the children couldn’t see, and having been left untended for a few moments, they were already loud enough not to hear a word of the conversation taking place outside.
    At last she recovered enough to muster a gentle reply. “I understand you’ve been disappointed, Mr. Kane. But that is not entirely my fault.”
    â€œOh?” He folded his arms, settling against her door frame.
    â€œI should never have written that advertisement, but you should never have come in answer to it, when you’d never met me. I wonder what you expected to find.”
    â€œNothing like this,” he replied dryly.
    She sighed. “I believe I made my feelings clear. I cannot speak with you further on this matter, Mr. Kane. Good day.”
    He still blocked the doorway. “The least you could do, Miss Valentine, is agree to tutor me, turn me into a proper gent who wouldn’t embarrass a fine lady. A gentleman even a Valentine would deem worthy enough to smile at.” He stopped again, those devilish eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Not that a gentleman is what you truly need.”
    She tried scowling but suspected it came out more as a wince. “Mr. Kane, surely you have other women to torment.”
    He was staring at her lips in a very odd way and then he took a step toward her. Sophie thought she could duck under his arm and get safely inside, but he must have read her thoughts. He backed up again, just as she advanced. Now they were both in the doorway, separated by mere inches and with his arm blocking her escape once more.
    â€œI suppose you think this amusing,” she muttered, “to come here like this and tease me. As if I could ever agree to give private lessons to an unmarried man.”
    He moved even closer. Her heart thumped so hard her hairpins were coming loose.
    ***
    Lazarus was intrigued by this prim-faced little woman with the deliciously tempting lips, this chaste spinster in French lace drawers. She was moving directly up against his arm into his ready embrace—exactly where she professed she didn’t want to be, and exactly where he yearned to have her.
    He was incredibly aroused just to be this near. The scent of her hair made him quite light-headed. He could see every rapid breath she took, her breasts straining against that tight corset. His throat was dry, his loins heavy.
    Her lips wobbled for a brief moment, and he heard a slight groan, as if she were trying to restrain something. His heart lifted. Was she going to laugh? Yes. He saw it in her eyes—a warm amusement with him, with herself, and with their circumstances. He even felt her body tremble, ready to give way to a fit of giggles.
    But she controlled herself, straightened up, and resumed her stern and proper schoolmistress voice again.
    â€œI have other things to do with my day than wait around for some shallow young rake to make a greater fool of me than I can make of myself. There are plenty of other women here, and you may perform for all of them, but I’m not so easily impressed. I know a brash, vainglorious fool when I see one, and I stopped being breathless and wide-eyed over your sort when I was a great deal younger even than you are now. Perhaps you’ll grow out of it. Most little boys do. Good day, sir!” She turned swiftly, ducked under his arm, and slammed the door in his