Page 33 of A Relentless Rake

Drat him! She clenched her hands at her sides. “Someone could have seen you enter.”

“The hallway was empty. Besides, it’s my house.” He took a step toward her, the ruined dress dangling from his hand. “No one would give me a second glance wherever I roamed.”

“Convenient,” she muttered. Dear heavens, she was trapped with him! Yet she wasn’t afraid. She was furious.

“I don’t make the rules.” A half grin crooked his mouth. “I just enjoy them.”

“Whyare you bothering me?” She scowled in aggravation and crossed her arms.

Instantly, she knew that was a mistake because the posture only worked to thrust up her breasts even higher. His half grin blossomed into a full-out smile. Infuriating man!

She pointed at her face to lift his attention from her breasts. “Eye contact, if you please.”

“Pity.” He sighed with exaggerated disappointment. He met her gaze as she’d requested, but his eyes gleamed with wickedness.

She let out a frustrated groan and dropped her hands to her sides. “You are the most exasperating man I’ve ever—”

“Yes.” He gave another sigh with even more exaggerated disappointment than before. “Yes, I am.”

She wanted to grab him and shake him hard! “Please give back my dress.”

He looked aghast at the idea. “I can’t let you put this ruined thing back on.”

“You’re an earl,” she reminded him as her shoulders sagged in defeat. “At least be a gentleman and give me your jacket to cover myself.”

Something dark flickered in his eyes. “Iaman earl.” His voice lowered. “But don’t confuse that with being a gentleman.”

His warning twisted down her spine and spawned a shiver in its wake, one that left her stunned and breathless. Yet he shed his black kerseymere jacket and handed it to her.

When she slipped it on, she could still feel the heat of his body clinging to the material, just as she could smell the masculine scent of him, of cigars and port, bergamot, and…and something else she couldn’t quite place but breathed in deeply. The jacket engulfed her small shoulders, and when she pulled it closed across her front, the long cut of the tails covered her down to midthigh.Thank heavens.

Now that she was covered, his gaze returned to her face. Rather, to her chagrin, it focused on her mouth.

“What do you want with me, my lord?” she demanded and did her best to ignore the heat blossoming at her lips beneath his stare.

He rakishly arched a brow.

She caught her breath at her mistake. “I-I didn’t mean—” Oh, the devil take him! “I didnotmean it that way.”

“What way?” He feigned innocence.

She gritted her teeth and clenched his lapels so tightly in her hands that she feared she might rip them from his jacket. She had no intention of answeringthat.

He chuckled, although she couldn’t have said whether at her or himself. “My intentions are pure, I assure you.” Then the mocking left his voice. “You fled the ballroom. I wanted to make certain you were unharmed. That’s all.”

Ha!Thatwas a lie if ever she heard one. He could have sent his sister to check on her, or Lady Gantry, or one of the dozen other women who were falling all over themselves to catch his attention this evening. Yet he’d come after her himself.

But why? He knew well enough already that she wouldn’t be swayed by the charms of a rake. Even such an attractive one.

She arched a brow. “Am I truly supposed to believe that you’re a gentleman and not the blackguard your reputation claims?”

“My reputation is exaggerated.”

Olivia didn’t believe that for a second. “So you haven’t done all the things they’re gossiping about in the ballroom?”

“Oh, I’ve done them. So have all the other gentlemen in attendance tonight.” He reached past her to toss the dress over the screen. Instead of stepping back, he placed his palm flat against the screen at her shoulder and lowered his head until his face was level with hers. “The difference, Miss Everett, is that I’ve done nothing to hide my activities.”

She pushed at his shoulder to make him step back, but the frustrating man didn’t move. “You’re proud of being a rake?”