Page 109 of Outrageous

He pulled off his hat and shoved his hand through his hair, mussing the perfection. “For the life of me I cannot think what possessed your father to grant you such liberties. I’m sure that when Gabe arrives, he will agree with what I’m saying and—”

“First of all, I am guessing you would be very, very off in your estimation if you think Gabe would be anything but supportive. And second, I don’t care what his—or anyone else’s—opinion is.”

“Not even mine?”

Eva ignored his question and asked one of her own. “Tell me, Tommy,” she asked in a low, silky tone. “Is it your intention to curtail my unseemly activities once I am your chattel under the law?”

“That is unkind, Eva. You know I would do no such thing.”

“I don’t know anything of the sort. And this conversation has brought my ignorance home to me. You are ashamed of what I am doing. You are worried how it shall look to your tenants, your relations, your friends—whomever else you consider important.”

“Someone needs to be concerned. You show no interest in anyone’s opinions other than your bloody stable boy’s.”

“You cannot be jealous of James.”

“Don’t be foolish,” he snapped. “Just because I find your behavior inappropriate does not mean I am jealous of a stable lad.”

“Well. I’m relieved to hear it. By the by, James is not a stable lad. He’s been a groom for several years already and he is now the manager of my small operation—an operation which employs four people at this point and I hope will have five times that number in a few years.” Eva took a step toward him, angrier than she’d been since that day at the Greedy Vicar Inn—the day when Tommy had gone to Godric and forced him into a conversation that he’d had no right to initiate.

A conversation that you weren’t supposed to hear, but one that certainly set you straight, didn’t it?

Eva ignored the dig and focused on the matter at hand. “If you have an issue with my behavior, now is a very good time to bring it up, Tommy. The wedding is still days away,” she reminded him. “There is plenty of time to change our minds.”

Tommy’s face softened as he looked down at her, and then he cupped her jaw with one large, kid-sheathed hand. It was all Eva could do not to yank herself away. “I’m sorry, Eva. You are correct. I’m behaving like a fool. It’s just—well, it seems you have more interest in spending time in the stables than you do with me.”

That was true, but it was hardly politic to admit it. Instead she brought up another matter she wanted to keep at the forefront of his mind. “You promised me that you had no expectations, Tommy. You promised me we would enter this marriage as friends.”

He swallowed hard enough for her to hear it. “I know I did. And you are right to bring me up short for my behavior. I’m afraid I can’t stop myself from wanting more of you, and yet you will hardly let me touch you—even to kiss you.”

Which was exactly what she was afraid of. It was also exactly what her stepmamma—the only one other than Eva and Tommy who knew the truth—had warned her.

“You just kissed me a moment ago,” Eva said, although she knew what he meant.

“I want you properly,” he murmured in a low, hungry voice. He lowered his mouth slowly enough over hers that she could have easily moved away. But she didn’t. Not because she wanted him, but because it would soon be her duty to submit to kisses and more.

His mouth was soft and warm, his lips fuller than Godric’s. The sensation of his body pressing gently against hers was not unpleasant. When it appeared he would not open his mouth, she flicked her tongue between his lips. His body momentarily stiffened, but he didn’t push her away. Instead, he pulled her closer.

His hand slid around her head and his fingers bunched in her hair as he took control of the kiss. The sensation was pleasant and he was most certainly skilled at making love with his mouth. Eva softened against him, allowing him to take her in his arms, his body big and hard and warm against hers, his arms taut with the barely leashed passion she evidently ignited in him.

The cool mental observation made her release his broad shoulders, which she’d grasped without realizing, and squirm in his grasp.

He let go and stepped back, his pupils huge, his pale cheeks flushed with arousal rather than irritation for a change. He stroked his thumb over her chin, his lids heavy and desire rolling off him in waves.

“By God, you are—” He stopped and shook his head, his expression a complex blend of lust, frustration, and more besides.

Eva slid her hand around his wrist—elegantly sheathed in butter-soft leather—and gave him a squeeze before setting his hand aside.

“There, we’ve kissed, Tommy. And when we are man and wife, I will give you all of myself that I have to give—my body and my friendship, but not, I hope you know, my love. I am not insensible to the sacrifice you are making—no,” she said when he opened his mouth to demur, “it is a sacrifice, and I am grateful. But I will not lie to you about the way I feel. Nor will I give up this.” She waved her hand to encompass everything around them. “If you do not want a horse breeding operation at Byer Court, you should tell me now.”

His lips curved and he suddenly resembled the old Tommy—the one before this fiasco with Godric—her brother’s amusing friend whom she’d enjoyed teasing about his rotten taste in cattle and impeccable taste in clothing. “Don’t be silly, Eva—I can hardly wait to see the stables restored to their prior glory, and it will be a perfect place to house all the horses even you can accumulate.” He raised her hands to his mouth and lowered his head to kiss her fingers, and then stopped. “Lord! What happened here?”

She glanced at the crushed fingernail he was eying with horror; it was torn and there was a purple bruise blooming beneath the nail.

“I was helping shoe Hedge Bird and my hand got in the way.”

Tommy grimaced—whether at her confession, or the name of her mare, she wasn’t sure. Once again a glimmer of irritation showed. “You’d better wear gloves or you’ll have hands like hooves, darling.” He smiled while he chided her, but Eva knew he was appalled. “And I really wish you’d let the lads handle jobs of that sort. If James isn’t sufficient you can always—”

“James is more than sufficient.” She tugged her hands away.