baw-headed cuif who will kiss your hand and bring you posies.” Her knees went weak when Cain moved to speak against her mouth. “I’m no’ that sort of man, lass. And ne’er will be.”
She closed her eyes, wanting to feel his lips upon hers. It had been so long since he’d kissed her last, and she couldn’t deny that he unlaced her sense of propriety. He was untamed, a man who could bring nothing but ruin to her reputation.
And there was no reasoning with this man or trying to teach him proper manners. It couldn’t be done.
“You want a woman who will keep your house and give you a dozen children,” she ventured. “I haven’t the faintest idea how to live like that. It’s not my way.”
“I could teach you how to give me children,” he said, nibbling at her jaw. A shudder of arousal coursed through her, and she cursed the wicked side of herself that wanted him to do just that. The warmth of his breath tingled against her skin. If she turned her face to his, she could taste his kiss once more.
You can’t , her brain reminded her. And with reluctance, she forced herself to step back.
“We’re too different,” she managed. “As I’ve told you before, you must find someone else.”
“You’re lying to yourself, lass.”
Yes, she was. But she couldn’t let herself even imagine a life with him. He would order her around, shaping her life in a direction she didn’t want. And although she suspected that having a man like Cain in her bed would be breathtaking, it wasn’t worth the perilous price of her virtue.
“I understand about Jonah,” she told him at last. “You’re the only brother he has to look after him. You should go back to Scotland.”
He kept his emotions shielded, as if he sensed her rejection. With a nod, he answered, “So be it.”
He started to walk away, when it occurred to her that she likely would not see him again. The thought was a startling blow, and she blurted out, “Are you leaving right now?”
“Within the fortnight,” he told her. “I’ve a few things I must do here, and then I’ll go.”
She shouldn’t have been so relieved to hear it, but she couldn’t understand the muddled feelings inside her. She didn’t want this man—truly, she didn’t. Why, then, did he cause such strong reactions in her?
She pushed the thoughts away and straightened her spine. “Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and my family.” Without his help, they never could have come this far. “I’ll see to it that you’re paid extra for this last delivery. And if you find any of the MacKinlochs who can be trusted, tell them—”
“No.” He cut her off. “If you’re wanting to find my replacement in Scotland, you’ll have to come and visit yourself.”
She understood, then, what he was saying. He wanted her to join him there, in the Highlands where there were no ballrooms or palaces. No barriers between them except her own inhibitions.
“I can’t,” she said softly. And he knew it. She met his gaze for a long moment, uncertain of what else to say.
“I’m no good at all for you,” he agreed.
Without warning, he took her face between his hands and captured her mouth in a dark kiss that left her reeling. “And that’s why you like me so well.”
“Remind me again why I’ve agreed to do this?” Lord Castledon inquired.
Amelia hid her smile, for the earl looked as if he’d rather be anywhere except at the tailor’s. “Because you promised to pay the forfeit when I won the game.” She took his arm as he accepted the brown paper package that contained several waistcoats in different colors.
“I still don’t understand how you managed to order all of this on my behalf.” He fumbled with the ties on the paper.
She shrugged. “It wasn’t difficult. I simply wrote a note, pretending to be you, and I had my footman deliver it to the tailor. I said he should use whatever measurements he already had. They were quite willing to make them for you.”
She closed her eyes, wanting to feel his lips upon hers. It had been so long since he’d kissed her last, and she couldn’t deny that he unlaced her sense of propriety. He was untamed, a man who could bring nothing but ruin to her reputation.
And there was no reasoning with this man or trying to teach him proper manners. It couldn’t be done.
“You want a woman who will keep your house and give you a dozen children,” she ventured. “I haven’t the faintest idea how to live like that. It’s not my way.”
“I could teach you how to give me children,” he said, nibbling at her jaw. A shudder of arousal coursed through her, and she cursed the wicked side of herself that wanted him to do just that. The warmth of his breath tingled against her skin. If she turned her face to his, she could taste his kiss once more.
You can’t , her brain reminded her. And with reluctance, she forced herself to step back.
“We’re too different,” she managed. “As I’ve told you before, you must find someone else.”
“You’re lying to yourself, lass.”
Yes, she was. But she couldn’t let herself even imagine a life with him. He would order her around, shaping her life in a direction she didn’t want. And although she suspected that having a man like Cain in her bed would be breathtaking, it wasn’t worth the perilous price of her virtue.
“I understand about Jonah,” she told him at last. “You’re the only brother he has to look after him. You should go back to Scotland.”
He kept his emotions shielded, as if he sensed her rejection. With a nod, he answered, “So be it.”
He started to walk away, when it occurred to her that she likely would not see him again. The thought was a startling blow, and she blurted out, “Are you leaving right now?”
“Within the fortnight,” he told her. “I’ve a few things I must do here, and then I’ll go.”
She shouldn’t have been so relieved to hear it, but she couldn’t understand the muddled feelings inside her. She didn’t want this man—truly, she didn’t. Why, then, did he cause such strong reactions in her?
She pushed the thoughts away and straightened her spine. “Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and my family.” Without his help, they never could have come this far. “I’ll see to it that you’re paid extra for this last delivery. And if you find any of the MacKinlochs who can be trusted, tell them—”
“No.” He cut her off. “If you’re wanting to find my replacement in Scotland, you’ll have to come and visit yourself.”
She understood, then, what he was saying. He wanted her to join him there, in the Highlands where there were no ballrooms or palaces. No barriers between them except her own inhibitions.
“I can’t,” she said softly. And he knew it. She met his gaze for a long moment, uncertain of what else to say.
“I’m no good at all for you,” he agreed.
Without warning, he took her face between his hands and captured her mouth in a dark kiss that left her reeling. “And that’s why you like me so well.”
“Remind me again why I’ve agreed to do this?” Lord Castledon inquired.
Amelia hid her smile, for the earl looked as if he’d rather be anywhere except at the tailor’s. “Because you promised to pay the forfeit when I won the game.” She took his arm as he accepted the brown paper package that contained several waistcoats in different colors.
“I still don’t understand how you managed to order all of this on my behalf.” He fumbled with the ties on the paper.
She shrugged. “It wasn’t difficult. I simply wrote a note, pretending to be you, and I had my footman deliver it to the tailor. I said he should use whatever measurements he already had. They were quite willing to make them for you.”
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