change her opinion of me.”
“Well, Hawke.” Alec interrupted the two men. “It appears you’ve made quite an impression with your Miss Jonston. You have made her so angry she felt it necessary to drag Miss Roberts from a very pleasant conversation with me.” Turning to Case, he added with a crooked grin. “Fascinating. I don’t think that word begins to describe your daughter, sir.”
I couldn’t agree with him more , Hawke thought to himself. Fascinating.
Chapter 7
Sitting just inside the open French doors of his bedroom, smoking a slender cigar, Hawke replayed the evening in his head. After the Misses Jonston and Roberts left, he and Alec continued talking to the guests. He felt very comfortable, and surprised at how quickly they accepted him. No games, no having to prove you were more intelligent or had more money. A refreshing change from the world he had grown up in.
He’d noticed the women returning to the party, but it had been impossible to find a chance to talk to Miss Jonston again. She made it clear she wanted him gone. His eyes were drawn back to her lithe figure time and time again.
Her avoidance was certainly not what he had expected after her magnificent display of temper. He knew at some point he would be raked over the coals by her blistering anger and felt a perverse disappointment he wasn’t treated to a tongue lashing, just so he could observe her up close once again.
The cool evening breeze brought the scents of roses, wisteria, and lilac up from the garden below. The fragrances conjured her face. She was the most unexpected of all. Drawing deeply on the cigar, he watched the smoke drift lazily into the dark, a slow smile playing across his mouth. Yes, she definitely was a surprise. He had never expected to find such a delicate beauty out here. He longed to touch her golden skin and see those sapphire eyes burn with desire for him. He ached at the thought of her lying naked beneath him, eyes dark with desire and body flush with the same burning need he was feeling at this moment.
Shaking his head to dispel the vision in his mind, he stood, leaning one shoulder against the doorframe, one leg crossed over the other . God, I’ve just met the woman, and already I want her. The thought stunned. I’m not some green boy in the throes of his first passion . He had never been a man to let a physical attraction control his thoughts and his body. Why did this particular woman have him enthralled after just one meeting? I’d better get control of myself, or I’ll be walking around like some moonstruck lad. I’m certainly not going to chase a woman around. Warm willing women in his bed had never been a problem in the past, and wouldn’t be a problem in the future, so why worry about this prickly one?
Hearing a noise, he looked and saw one of the French doors open across the patio. He remained still as Kara stepped out on the balcony. Heat fired through him seeing her in only a thin gown, illuminated by the moonlight.
A low groan escaped his lips. The shadows of her narrow waist, trim hips, and long legs made him want to reach across the space separating them to stroke her. She tilted her head to one side, brushing her long hair. The urge to feel the dark silken mass slide over his bare skin was overpowering. He was going to burst with wanting. He felt himself harden with desire to possess this beauty.
• • •
Kara had come outside to cool off. The night had been so disturbing, and her room felt small and stifling.
Gazing at the dark blue velvet sky studded with stars, she idly brushed out her hip-length hair, while reflections on the barbecue ran through her head. The thought of Mr. Pryce brought an uneasy tightening to her belly.
Liquid fire raced up and down her veins, finally pooling deep in her abdomen as she remembered his intense gaze. Even though she had tried her hardest to ignore him, awareness of him watching her throughout the evening jangled her nerves. She didn’t know
“Well, Hawke.” Alec interrupted the two men. “It appears you’ve made quite an impression with your Miss Jonston. You have made her so angry she felt it necessary to drag Miss Roberts from a very pleasant conversation with me.” Turning to Case, he added with a crooked grin. “Fascinating. I don’t think that word begins to describe your daughter, sir.”
I couldn’t agree with him more , Hawke thought to himself. Fascinating.
Chapter 7
Sitting just inside the open French doors of his bedroom, smoking a slender cigar, Hawke replayed the evening in his head. After the Misses Jonston and Roberts left, he and Alec continued talking to the guests. He felt very comfortable, and surprised at how quickly they accepted him. No games, no having to prove you were more intelligent or had more money. A refreshing change from the world he had grown up in.
He’d noticed the women returning to the party, but it had been impossible to find a chance to talk to Miss Jonston again. She made it clear she wanted him gone. His eyes were drawn back to her lithe figure time and time again.
Her avoidance was certainly not what he had expected after her magnificent display of temper. He knew at some point he would be raked over the coals by her blistering anger and felt a perverse disappointment he wasn’t treated to a tongue lashing, just so he could observe her up close once again.
The cool evening breeze brought the scents of roses, wisteria, and lilac up from the garden below. The fragrances conjured her face. She was the most unexpected of all. Drawing deeply on the cigar, he watched the smoke drift lazily into the dark, a slow smile playing across his mouth. Yes, she definitely was a surprise. He had never expected to find such a delicate beauty out here. He longed to touch her golden skin and see those sapphire eyes burn with desire for him. He ached at the thought of her lying naked beneath him, eyes dark with desire and body flush with the same burning need he was feeling at this moment.
Shaking his head to dispel the vision in his mind, he stood, leaning one shoulder against the doorframe, one leg crossed over the other . God, I’ve just met the woman, and already I want her. The thought stunned. I’m not some green boy in the throes of his first passion . He had never been a man to let a physical attraction control his thoughts and his body. Why did this particular woman have him enthralled after just one meeting? I’d better get control of myself, or I’ll be walking around like some moonstruck lad. I’m certainly not going to chase a woman around. Warm willing women in his bed had never been a problem in the past, and wouldn’t be a problem in the future, so why worry about this prickly one?
Hearing a noise, he looked and saw one of the French doors open across the patio. He remained still as Kara stepped out on the balcony. Heat fired through him seeing her in only a thin gown, illuminated by the moonlight.
A low groan escaped his lips. The shadows of her narrow waist, trim hips, and long legs made him want to reach across the space separating them to stroke her. She tilted her head to one side, brushing her long hair. The urge to feel the dark silken mass slide over his bare skin was overpowering. He was going to burst with wanting. He felt himself harden with desire to possess this beauty.
• • •
Kara had come outside to cool off. The night had been so disturbing, and her room felt small and stifling.
Gazing at the dark blue velvet sky studded with stars, she idly brushed out her hip-length hair, while reflections on the barbecue ran through her head. The thought of Mr. Pryce brought an uneasy tightening to her belly.
Liquid fire raced up and down her veins, finally pooling deep in her abdomen as she remembered his intense gaze. Even though she had tried her hardest to ignore him, awareness of him watching her throughout the evening jangled her nerves. She didn’t know
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