A Perfect Groom by Samantha James Page B

avoid me like the plague.”
    “Why would I avoid you? That would imply I am afraid of you.”
    “And you, of course, fear nothing, least of all a mere woman.”
    Their eyes caught. Within his, glimmered a spark of something…something she couldn’t quite decipher. She knew only that whatever it was, she didn’t trust it.
    “Must you stare at me?”
    “I’m sorry,” he said smoothly. “I didn’t mean to. It’s just that I never before noticed your freckles.”
    No doubt he was comparing her to the elegant sophisticates with whom he usually associated. But Arabella had never hated her freckles more than she did at that moment. When she was a child, she’d scrubbed until her skin was raw. When she was older, she’d prodigiously applied Gowland’s Lotion each and every night. Nothing had worked.
    Her gaze was the first to slide away. She lapsed into silence. Lord, but this was awkward. She didn’t like dancing. More aptly, she didn’t like dancing with him . He was far too devilishly attractive, for one thing. It galled her to admit that she couldn’t nor be conscious of him. My God, that was a feat no sane woman could accomplish. And she was acutely aware of the weight of his hand on her waist. She felt as if she burned clear to the skin. And his other hand, wrapped around hers, large and brown and strong…Something wholly unfamiliar stabbed at her insides.
    He whirled her again. Arabella stumbled, forced to grab at him for support.
    “Justin, stop that!” she hissed. Her legs felt like stilts. Her face was flaming, she was certain.
    “My dear, how else are we to dance?”
    “You’re holding me much too tightly!”
    “Am I?”
    It was a mild inquiry, but hardly a mild look. What was it he’d said last night? I’ve been known to eat up tender little girls like you .
    Arabella was heartily annoyed with herself. She sounded as if she’d been running. In truth her shortness of breath wasn’t due to the tightening of his arm around her waist. No, it had far more to do with the proximity of his lips, which hovered so near she could feel the warm rush of his breath across her temple. And his height…confound it, he managed to make her feel dainty and delicate, no small feat. And…oh, how she liked it! God above, but she did!
    But this was Justin Sterling. Rake of all rakes. Cad among cads.
    Confused by her reaction, disturbed by his nearness, she rallied her defenses, straightened her spine…and accidentally stepped on his foot in the process.
    He grunted. “I’d heard that dancing was not one of your accomplishments. But you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
    “I did not,” she denied with a flare of resentment.
    The clasp of his hand around hers tightened.
    “Justin! For pity’s sake —”
    “Do you know, that is the third time you’ve uttered my name in as many minutes? I do believe my status is growing in your eyes.”
    “I wasn’t counting,” she said from between her teeth. “Now loosen your grip, if you please.”
    He was undaunted. “The waltz is not yet over.”
    “Justin —”
    “Four,” he intoned softly.
    Arabella’s head came up so suddenly she nearly clipped his chin. She shot him a look that would have withered many a man in his shoes. Alas, not him! He continued to regard her with the merest hint of a smile on his lips.
    “Now, see here.” She did her best to sound severe. “I do not want to cause a scandal. And surely you don’t, either—”
    He laughed outright.
    Her eyes were snapping. “Why do you find that so amusing?”
    “Because it is amusing. Scandal? My dear, you’ve spent too much time away from the country with your parents. The Sterling family name is synonymous with scandal. Hadn’t you heard?”
    “I thought it was only your name that was,” she stated daringly.
    “If you seek to wound me, Arabella, you’ll have to do better than that.”
    Faith, but he had an answer for everything! She decided her best defense was silence. He spun.