movements. Her breath quickened. All cognitive thought fled when he stood close. His scent surrounded her, hypnotized her. She had not realized the weakness she had for sandalwood and spice.
“Generosity is it? Perhaps I should demand payment.”
“Payment?” She stared up into his face, mesmerized by the tenor of his voice and the intensity of his gaze. “I have nothing to give.”
One side of his mouth turned up slightly at her words and Blake reached out to cup her chin. Nicki shivered as the heel of his thumb traced her cheekbone.
“You are mistaken, my dear. Your simple gifts are worth a king's ransom.”
She fought the rising heat that coiled inside her at his words. What was happening to her? “I have given you nothing, my lord.”
His low, bitter laughter shattered the moment and Nicki jerked away from his touch. “Not yet, but I will keep a tally of your debts, Nicole. When the time comes, I shall demand payment in full.”
“You toy with me, sir. I do not like it.”
He grasped her upper arm in one hand. “You had best be going before I come to my senses and exact recompense here and now.”
Nicki forced away the last moments of their encounter and chose instead to bask in the glow of her good fortune. She allowed Blake to drag her toward the door leading to the outer passage and waited as he released her arm only long enough to retrieve a pair of Wellingtons from just inside the entrance.
The light from the wall lanterns along the hall reflected off the highly polished boots as Blake donned first one then the other. He grabbed her arm again to pull her toward the staircase.
Nicki could have danced for joy. Her father's debts would be paid; Mina would have her Season; and she had been the one to bring it about.
She stumbled on the first stair. Reality intruded and she took her eyes off the broad back in front of her to concentrate on maintaining her footing. When they reached the first floor, Blake veered off to the left and pulled Nicki into the library. She tripped in the darkness, but his strong grip saved her from falling.
He paused only long enough to ensure she had recovered her balance, then he drew the heavy drapes away from the French doors. Moonlight touched the veranda and shimmered across the stone path winding through the garden.
Soon heavy blooms would weight the thorny stalks of rose bushes that gave Rosewood its name. Their heady fragrance would permeate the air like a room full of debutantes. But now, they sadly needed pruning. As a child, Nicki had believed the beautiful garden enchanted. It was as though a curse had been placed over Rosewood and only magic could return the allure and grace it had once known.
Blake stopped without warning and Nicki bounced off his formidable back. “Oh! Excuse me, I had no warning you were through dragging me about.”
He glanced around at her and Nicki saw the white flash of his teeth in the darkness. “I am far from through with you, my little adventuress. I believe your boots fell in these bushes.”
She looked doubtfully at the menacing shrubbery where nasty thorns certainly lurked in the dark leaves, and offered Blake her brightest smile. “Shall I hold the stems back while you search?”
A muscle in his jaw flinched slightly, and Nicki could have sworn his silver eyes sparkled. “I have a better plan. While you are retrieving your footwear, I shall go to the stables and saddle a horse.”
Nicki touched his arm, then snatched her hand away quickly. “I am perfectly capable of finding my way home, Blake. I have been coming here since I was a small child.”
He reached out to lift her chin. “I realize you are a frighteningly resourceful female, but I am your intended. This is as good a time as any for you to realize that as my wife, you will not risk your neck unless I am present.”
Nicki frowned. He had sounded just like her father. “That is arrogant and self-serving. I shall never have any fun at all, especially if I must
“Generosity is it? Perhaps I should demand payment.”
“Payment?” She stared up into his face, mesmerized by the tenor of his voice and the intensity of his gaze. “I have nothing to give.”
One side of his mouth turned up slightly at her words and Blake reached out to cup her chin. Nicki shivered as the heel of his thumb traced her cheekbone.
“You are mistaken, my dear. Your simple gifts are worth a king's ransom.”
She fought the rising heat that coiled inside her at his words. What was happening to her? “I have given you nothing, my lord.”
His low, bitter laughter shattered the moment and Nicki jerked away from his touch. “Not yet, but I will keep a tally of your debts, Nicole. When the time comes, I shall demand payment in full.”
“You toy with me, sir. I do not like it.”
He grasped her upper arm in one hand. “You had best be going before I come to my senses and exact recompense here and now.”
Nicki forced away the last moments of their encounter and chose instead to bask in the glow of her good fortune. She allowed Blake to drag her toward the door leading to the outer passage and waited as he released her arm only long enough to retrieve a pair of Wellingtons from just inside the entrance.
The light from the wall lanterns along the hall reflected off the highly polished boots as Blake donned first one then the other. He grabbed her arm again to pull her toward the staircase.
Nicki could have danced for joy. Her father's debts would be paid; Mina would have her Season; and she had been the one to bring it about.
She stumbled on the first stair. Reality intruded and she took her eyes off the broad back in front of her to concentrate on maintaining her footing. When they reached the first floor, Blake veered off to the left and pulled Nicki into the library. She tripped in the darkness, but his strong grip saved her from falling.
He paused only long enough to ensure she had recovered her balance, then he drew the heavy drapes away from the French doors. Moonlight touched the veranda and shimmered across the stone path winding through the garden.
Soon heavy blooms would weight the thorny stalks of rose bushes that gave Rosewood its name. Their heady fragrance would permeate the air like a room full of debutantes. But now, they sadly needed pruning. As a child, Nicki had believed the beautiful garden enchanted. It was as though a curse had been placed over Rosewood and only magic could return the allure and grace it had once known.
Blake stopped without warning and Nicki bounced off his formidable back. “Oh! Excuse me, I had no warning you were through dragging me about.”
He glanced around at her and Nicki saw the white flash of his teeth in the darkness. “I am far from through with you, my little adventuress. I believe your boots fell in these bushes.”
She looked doubtfully at the menacing shrubbery where nasty thorns certainly lurked in the dark leaves, and offered Blake her brightest smile. “Shall I hold the stems back while you search?”
A muscle in his jaw flinched slightly, and Nicki could have sworn his silver eyes sparkled. “I have a better plan. While you are retrieving your footwear, I shall go to the stables and saddle a horse.”
Nicki touched his arm, then snatched her hand away quickly. “I am perfectly capable of finding my way home, Blake. I have been coming here since I was a small child.”
He reached out to lift her chin. “I realize you are a frighteningly resourceful female, but I am your intended. This is as good a time as any for you to realize that as my wife, you will not risk your neck unless I am present.”
Nicki frowned. He had sounded just like her father. “That is arrogant and self-serving. I shall never have any fun at all, especially if I must
Similar Books
