Page 55 of When the Scoundrel Sins

She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t think I haven’t been considering the best place to hide your body.”

She grimaced inwardly with guilt at the overly tight bandage and reached to loosen it. He’d terrified the daylights out of her when she saw him go running into the flames, risking his life to help her. Her heart had stopped with terror, and it hadn’t started beating again until he emerged from the flame-engulfed barn an eternity later. He would have run back inside again to his death if she hadn’t stopped him. Even now her stomach sickened at the thought of it.

That wasn’t at all the Quinton she’d known from before. That scapegrace was gone, replaced by a mature and responsible man whom she’d come to depend upon.

What would she have done if anything had happened to him? Dear God, how could she have borne it?

She blinked back the stinging in her eyes as she loosened the bandage, her fingers shaking so hard at the thought of losing him that she could barely retie the ends. He watched her closely, which only made her shake harder and the tears burn stronger.

He leaned forward and turned his arm so that his hand slid warmly into hers, his fingertips caressing across her palm and sending a shiver up her arm. His blue eyes stared solemnly at her.

“It’s nothing, only a little burn.” He cupped her cheek in his free hand and made her look at him. “I’m fine, Belle.”

She couldn’t find her voice to reply without sobbing. Or cursing.

“Besides, you know I wouldn’t have died in that barn.” He grinned at her. “I’d never let you get rid of me that easily.”

With a scowl, she shoved his hand away from her face. Only Quinn would tease her at a time like this! “Knowing you, you’d come back as a ghost and haunt me,” she grumbled, “and then I’d be stuck with you forever.”

His grin widened. “Would I be able to walk through walls? Because it would make haunting so much more fun if—”

“Quinton James Carlisle!” The aggravation inside her boiled over. “I swear, if you don’t—”

He grabbed the front of her dirty dress and yanked her toward him, his mouth capturing hers in an unexpected kiss that stunned her into silence. At first greedy, as if he craved her taste like a starving man, his mouth moved hungrily against hers until she responded just as eagerly.

Then the kiss softened, until his lips lingered against hers in a series of tender little kisses. Until she sighed against his mouth, all the anger and frustration draining from her.

Releasing her dress, he leaned back in the chair. She opened her eyes to find his heated gaze on her. As if contemplating grabbing her for a second kiss.

God help her, she wanted exactly that. Since he’d arrived at Glenarvon, he’d given her such heated kisses and wanton touches that he’d kept her awake at night imaging all kinds of wicked fantasies—thosewere a trouble all their own.

So was the arrogant confidence on his face at so thoroughly kissing her.

She rolled her eyes. “You can’t keep kissing me every time you want to silence me,” she warned, reaching across the table for his arm to finish what she was doing before he kissed her, although for one disconcerting moment she couldn’t remember what that was.

“Seems like a damned fine way to me,” he murmured rakishly.

Her insides melted as a blush heated her cheeks. It seemed like a damned fine way to her, too.

But it couldn’t continue. “Quinn, I don’t think—”

“The barn was deliberately set on fire,” he said quietly, suddenly serious.

Her fingers froze on the bandage as her eyes snapped up to his, not needing a kiss to surprise her into silence this time.

“Arson,” he clarified, keeping his voice low in case someone entered the basement. “That’s why it went up so fast, not just because of the hay. Like the flooding of the pasture and all the other troubles you’ve had for the past year, someone set that fire to cause problems for you.”

Her stomach plummeted. He’d given voice to her worst fears, yet she argued, “You don’t know that for certain.”

“I do.” He placed his hand reassuringly over hers, and her fingers trembled beneath his. “Whoever is doing this meant to cause serious harm this time. But I won’t let them get away with it.”

Her heart stuttered at the sudden sobriety of his words. “Whywould someone do that?”

“Perhaps to frighten away the men who want to marry you.” His eyes darkened but never left hers. “Who benefits if you lose Glenarvon?”

Irritation sparked inside her. Now he was just being ridiculous. “The Church.” She arched a brow. “And I doubt Vicar Halsey is out committing arson when he rides his rounds.”

He grimaced and shook his head. “How well do you know Bletchley?”