To Tempt A Scotsman. Victoria Dahl

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ me to take advantage of their friendship by…by taking advantage of you.”

      Her luscious mouth thinned to a hard line of displeasure. “I had not planned to run back and announce what we’d done. And I’d hardly call it taking advantage.”

      His hand felt rough when he ran it over his face, and his throat felt rougher when he spoke. “I’m sorry, Alex. Believe me. I am sorry. But this cannot be.”

      She blinked, looked away from him. That stubborn jaw worked hard to clench and unclench her teeth. High spots of red burned her cheeks.

      “Fine, Blackburn. You obviously have your reasons. Shall we return to the house then?”

      He watched her hurriedly fasten the last three buttons of her shirt and stand. She adjusted her skirts with rough twitches and tucked in her shirt, all without meeting his eyes. He saw the exact moment her face cleared of all emotion.

      When she turned to look about for her discarded jacket, he reached to take her hand. “Alex, please don’t.”

      “Don’t what, Mr. Blackburn?”

      “I’m trying to do the right thing by you. Don’t look past me like that.”

      She finally met his eyes and he saw them warm to just above freezing. “It is a rather uncomfortable situation, is it not?”

      “It does not have to be. It was a surpassingly lovely morning.”

      Her lips quirked. “I did enjoy myself.”

      “Well, lassie,”—he couldn’t resist pressing a quick peck to her mouth—“so did I.”

      Alex glanced away and forced a wider smile. He was very sweet to lie to her like that. It was part of the problem, this extreme likeability of his.

      “We should head back,” she murmured. “We will miss luncheon.”

      Her not-quite lover nodded and bent to retrieve his coat. He gave her a searching look before he walked away toward Thor.

      When he’d gone, she put her hands to her face and groaned. How embarrassing this all was. She should have learned her lesson the last time she’d been humiliated by her baser needs. Of course, that time had been nothing like this. No, this time had been very nearly worth any amount of embarrassment.

      Nearly. It had taken her a few awkward moments to realize he was rejecting her. She’d offered herself to him like the harlot she was, and he had, very politely, turned her down. She didn’t even know that men would do that.

      He must find her wanting in some way. She almost smiled at the thought, despite her rising humiliation. Oh, she was wanting all right.

      Not waiting for help from him, she scrambled onto Brinn’s back and stared out at the sea until she heard the soft sound of hooves behind her. When she turned, she found Collin watching her intently and smiled for his benefit. No need to make him feel guilty for something she had forced between them.

      During the long ride back, Alex made every effort to keep some distance between their horses, trying, simultaneously, not to make it obvious. But as they drew closer to the manor, Collin pulled his horse next to hers and said her name.

      She sent him a vacuous smile.

      “Alexandra, I wanted to ask you…”

      “Yes?”

      “Will you contact me if St. Claire writes again?”

      She frowned, blinked. She had not expected to hear him speak of it again.

      “I…But what of the information I gave you?”

      He shook his head. “Old.”

      “Oh.” More humiliation to add to his account. “You didn’t tell me.”

      He had the grace, at least, to shift in his saddle. “When I left Somerhart, I left with the intention of coming back in two weeks to see if you’d received additional letters. But I thought, now, considering the circumstances, perhaps it would be better if you simply sent me notice next time.”

      Her spine stiffened. What did he mean by “the circumstances?” And had he shown interest in her just to secure her cooperation?

      She glared at him, and he looked back, mouth flat and miserable, but his eyes did not avoid hers. No. No, he hadn’t used her. He seemed more noble than any nobleman she’d ever met. And anyway, he hadn’t bothered to cement their relationship nearly as tightly as he could have. The very uncomfortable “circumstance” he’d referred to, no doubt.

      “I’ll send the direction,” she said simply.

      When they reached the manor, she tossed her reins to a groom while Collin led his own horse to the stables. She hurried into the house and up the stairs and told herself she had no reason to be mad at him for rejecting her when she was the woman who’d betrayed his brother so vilely. She should be thankful he could be kind to her, be friendly. But as she closed her bedroom door with a firm thud, thankfulness was the least of her emotions.

      Chapter 5

      She’ll be gone in the morning.

      Collin told himself this every time his eye fell on Alexandra Huntington.

      Don’t worry. She’ll be gone soon.

      She looked beautiful, of course, in a fluff of red dress that accentuated her alabaster skin and the smallness of her waist. The dress also rather successfully drew the eye to the soft rise of her breasts. It was not daring by society standards, but the bodice curved more than low enough to offer a tantalizing glimpse of her firm breasts. Collin did what he could to stop himself staring. Not an easy task when he could picture perfectly the shape and shade of them beneath his hand.

      Perhaps more maddening than his fascination with her bosom was the way her eyes slid away from his every time he looked at her. Even when he’d greeted her before dinner she’d stared at his collar. Now she stared at the wineglass that had not left her hand since the first course was served.

      “How is your head?”

      She blinked as if drawn from a deep thought. “Pardon me?”

      “Your head. That is why you missed luncheon? A headache?”

      “Oh. Yes. My head is better, thank you.”

      “I hope it was not the strenuous ride today that discomposed you.” Oh, her eyes flew to meet his then.

      Collin kept his face straight—very straight—and raised an innocent, inquiring brow. Her cheeks flamed.

      “It was not the ride, Mr. Blackburn,” she bit out. “I am an experienced rider, after all.”

      Ouch. Her behavior was so demure this evening that he’d forgotten that kittens’ claws were not only tiny but also devastatingly sharp.

      “Of course.” This time, when she looked away, he slumped back into the chair to glare at his bowl of stewed fruit.

СКАЧАТЬ