Page 39 of The Mistletoe Duke
“Not in the least.” He moved closer. “Do you want to know what else I was thinking of?”
She met his gaze, held it. She thought she knew what he was going to say, and it made her breathless. “Yes.” A peep.
“I was thinking about that kiss last night. Do you remember it?”
She couldn’t hold back a laugh. Did she remember it? “Honestly, Jonathan. How terrible do you think my memory is?”
“So you do remember?”
“Of course I do. It was…”
“What?” He came closer still. His breath caressed her cheek.
“It was wonderful,” she whispered. It was all she could manage.
“I thought it was wonderful too. I’d like to do it again.” Somewhere, in his words, was an inherent question, which was ridiculous. In response, she put her hand to his cheek. His day beard scratched her palm and she loved it. So she stroked.
“Ah,” he said, closing his eyes and leaning in to her touch. “Meg. My Meg.”
The words stunned her—my Meg—but she had no time to react, because he touched his lips to hers, ever-so-tenderly. She allowed him to kiss her like that for a long time, but when he deepened the kiss, her conscience smote her, and not for the first time.
Gently, slowly, she pulled away. “We shouldn’t.”
His brow furrowed. “Why ever not?”
“Someone might see.”
“I don’t care.”
She frowned at him. “You should. You’re supposed to be here looking for a wife—”
His gaze glinted. “I am.”
“A young wife.”
His frown blossomed into a glower. “You’re younger than me.”
“But your mother has invited the cream of the crop, just for you.”
His snort echoed.
“The cream of the crop? Glorianna Pickering won’t speak, Louisa Mountbatten won’t stop, and Cicely Peck…”
Something in his tone made her wild with curiosity. “What about Cicely Peck?”
“She showed up in my chambers last night.”
Meg’s chin dropped. “She didn’t.”
“She did. Fortunately, I wasn’t there. But Rodgers was. He’s now locking my doors.”
“Excellent idea.”
“Rodgers is the best valet in Christendom.”
“Methinks he deserves a bonus.”
Jonathan grinned. “Methinks I agree. But aside from all that, someone else has caught my eye. Dare I say, my heart?”
