where you belong.”
She darted him a surprised look so full of hope, he knew without a doubt that he would do anything to make good on that promise.
Her gaze fell to the rickety table between them. “I can’ t stay.” She did sound more even-tempered, as if she were considering his request rather than swinging wildly at her demons. “Even if I wanted to. Finn will easily prove you and I don’t have an agreement. There’s already no proof we knew each other a year ago.”
He set his hands flat on the table. “That’s only true from your perspective. Me? I’ve been aware of you ever since I became a man. I’m positive we have more of our past in common than you think.”
She gawked at him. “You watched me?”
Even he was surprised by his admission. He hadn’t meant to tell her that.
Going for the whole pound, he continued, “You’re one of the most beautiful, sought-after women in England. I’d have had to be dead not to notice you. I’m sure we can remember an event we both attended. Some dazzling night that might have ended in bed. Can’t you imagine it?”
Her breath caught. He could almost believe she was considering what that magical night might have been like. Then she shook her head, and the spell broke. “He won’t believe I was with anyone else. He only did at first because you caught him by surprise.” Her lip curled up with satisfaction. It had been her idea to shock him.
Then her expression turned bitter. “He knows how much I lo—how devoted I was to him. He even tried to prove I’m still attracted to him.”
Con’s eyes narrowed. In jealousy? As ridiculous as that seemed, he couldn’t help but wonder what Finn had done to her. Where he had touched her. Or when. “Are you?”
Blast, but he even sounded jealous.
Her answering recoil gave him immense satisfaction. “No! I hate him for what he’s done to me.”
That did simplify the situation, even if he took his burgeoning jealousy out of the equation. If she’d had latent feeling for the father of her child, Con wouldn’t have wanted to interfere in their lovers’ spat.
But since her antipathy toward Finn was palpable, Con’s inquisitiveness when it came to her was equally pricked. That surprised him. He hadn’t expected to become so interested in learning her story.
Ah, but he wouldn’t pry. He must be patient. A virtue he’d mastered dealing with his twin. Her past should be something she decided to share with him, once he’d earned her trust.
Why did he need to earn her trust?
He raised his wine to his lips and finished off the glass. The fact was, he had a soft spot for a dark horse. He set his wineglass firmly on the table. “Be my mistress. That will resolve any concern Finn has that we didn’t actually spend the night together. We’ll do our best to appear smitten; the rest of the world will believe it and Finn will look dotty for saying otherwise.”
She pressed her lips together, looking doubtful.
“You’re my ‘mistress’ tonight, and it’s not so bad, is it?” Con smiled reassuringly, feeling as though he were putting on the performance of his life. “We can continue on like this. An arrangement in word only. I can’t afford your services and even if I could, that would be a deuced awkward arrangement.”
Her puzzlement deepened. “You think it would be odd for us to—”
“Don’t even say it.” God, please don’t say it. “While I find you very attractive, I feel strangely friendly toward you. I don’t know how it’s been in your experience, but I can’t think that’s a usual sort of arrangement between a man and his paramour. How would we undress in front of each other?”
She looked at him as if he’d gone daft. Earlier when she’d teased him, she’d sent him suggestive looks. Now he was left in no doubt that had been an act. Not that he cared if she’d been playing a role, since they were just friends from now until forever. Platonic, asexual friends.
What was he
She darted him a surprised look so full of hope, he knew without a doubt that he would do anything to make good on that promise.
Her gaze fell to the rickety table between them. “I can’ t stay.” She did sound more even-tempered, as if she were considering his request rather than swinging wildly at her demons. “Even if I wanted to. Finn will easily prove you and I don’t have an agreement. There’s already no proof we knew each other a year ago.”
He set his hands flat on the table. “That’s only true from your perspective. Me? I’ve been aware of you ever since I became a man. I’m positive we have more of our past in common than you think.”
She gawked at him. “You watched me?”
Even he was surprised by his admission. He hadn’t meant to tell her that.
Going for the whole pound, he continued, “You’re one of the most beautiful, sought-after women in England. I’d have had to be dead not to notice you. I’m sure we can remember an event we both attended. Some dazzling night that might have ended in bed. Can’t you imagine it?”
Her breath caught. He could almost believe she was considering what that magical night might have been like. Then she shook her head, and the spell broke. “He won’t believe I was with anyone else. He only did at first because you caught him by surprise.” Her lip curled up with satisfaction. It had been her idea to shock him.
Then her expression turned bitter. “He knows how much I lo—how devoted I was to him. He even tried to prove I’m still attracted to him.”
Con’s eyes narrowed. In jealousy? As ridiculous as that seemed, he couldn’t help but wonder what Finn had done to her. Where he had touched her. Or when. “Are you?”
Blast, but he even sounded jealous.
Her answering recoil gave him immense satisfaction. “No! I hate him for what he’s done to me.”
That did simplify the situation, even if he took his burgeoning jealousy out of the equation. If she’d had latent feeling for the father of her child, Con wouldn’t have wanted to interfere in their lovers’ spat.
But since her antipathy toward Finn was palpable, Con’s inquisitiveness when it came to her was equally pricked. That surprised him. He hadn’t expected to become so interested in learning her story.
Ah, but he wouldn’t pry. He must be patient. A virtue he’d mastered dealing with his twin. Her past should be something she decided to share with him, once he’d earned her trust.
Why did he need to earn her trust?
He raised his wine to his lips and finished off the glass. The fact was, he had a soft spot for a dark horse. He set his wineglass firmly on the table. “Be my mistress. That will resolve any concern Finn has that we didn’t actually spend the night together. We’ll do our best to appear smitten; the rest of the world will believe it and Finn will look dotty for saying otherwise.”
She pressed her lips together, looking doubtful.
“You’re my ‘mistress’ tonight, and it’s not so bad, is it?” Con smiled reassuringly, feeling as though he were putting on the performance of his life. “We can continue on like this. An arrangement in word only. I can’t afford your services and even if I could, that would be a deuced awkward arrangement.”
Her puzzlement deepened. “You think it would be odd for us to—”
“Don’t even say it.” God, please don’t say it. “While I find you very attractive, I feel strangely friendly toward you. I don’t know how it’s been in your experience, but I can’t think that’s a usual sort of arrangement between a man and his paramour. How would we undress in front of each other?”
She looked at him as if he’d gone daft. Earlier when she’d teased him, she’d sent him suggestive looks. Now he was left in no doubt that had been an act. Not that he cared if she’d been playing a role, since they were just friends from now until forever. Platonic, asexual friends.
What was he
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