Winning Lord West by Anna Campbell Page A

new
townhouse.”
    “If…if this arrangement goes ahead, I reserve
the right to end it.”
    “Once you’ve satisfied curiosity?” Sourness
tinged his question. “I don’t feel like an architect anymore. I
feel like the subject of a scientific experiment.”
    She didn’t smile. “You don’t have to
agree.”
    “Yes, I do.” Not only because he wanted her
more than he’d wanted anything else in his life. After tonight’s
revelations, he had the strangest feeling that she needed him. Even
if she didn’t recognize it, and would never admit it if she
did.
    “Because you’ve got something to prove?”
    He was canny enough not to confide his
thoughts. “Maybe.”
    “And you’re not to mention marriage.”
    West swept a finger across his lips to
indicate they were forever sealed. “No M words.”
    “I mean it.”
    She didn’t trust his easy cooperation. A
smart girl, his Helena. But in this, he was at least one step ahead
of her. She’d forgotten his reputation as a negotiator. Tonight,
her concessions exceeded his most extravagant hopes. From here, he
could forge ahead and win the war.
    Helena Wade didn’t know it yet, but he had
her exactly where he wished.
    As if taking an oath, he raised his hand.
“For the duration of our stay at Woodley Park, I foreswear all
mention of marriage, wedding, vicar, wife, husband, nuptials,
proposals, and all similar and related terms, so help me, God.”
    “You’re looking too pleased with yourself,
West.” Her tone was suspicious. “I don’t like it.”
    “I’m about to kiss a lovely woman.” He strove
for a guileless expression. It didn’t come naturally. “Why
shouldn’t I be happy?”
    “I know you. You’re as cunning as a rat.”
    By God, she was a delight. Despite his
maneuvering, she wasn’t near defeated. The dance would go on, and
if he didn’t concentrate on every step, he’d stumble in a heap.
This edgy wooing proved devilish entertaining. The elusive Lady
Crewe was a quarry worth the pursuit. “Hardly flattering.”
    “But accurate.” Her regard remained wary.
“You’ve been a slippery customer since you were in your
cradle.”
    He spread his hands. “I agree to everything
you ask.”
    “That’s what worries me.”
    “Enough talk.” This time he ignored the
message of her raised hand and stepped close enough to catch her
smoky scent. “If I don’t kiss you in the next second, I’ll
explode.”
    She searched his face for signs of deceit.
“You’re up to something. I know it.”
    He caught the fluttering hands that betrayed
how flustered she was. “No more, Helena. It’s time to lay down your
guns and surrender. Close your eyes and pucker up.”
    “Oh, very well, if I must,” she said, as
though fronting up to a punishment.
    But she tilted her face with breathtaking
sweetness, and when he drew her into his arms, she was soft and
warm and pliant.

Chapter Five
     
    How strange to be in West’s arms again.
Fleetingly Helena became once more the innocent girl who had been
so mad for him.
    Except his easy strength was new, and the
confidence. This was a man who knew how to touch a woman. Whereas
she felt tremulous and untried, as if those poisonous years with
Crewe had never existed.
    Slowly she ran her palms up his chest,
feeling the heat of his skin through his shirt. The mature West was
an altogether more substantial figure than his younger self. The
body under her hands was firm with muscle, even if he was too thin
after his illness.
    Remembering how mere days ago, he’d been
racked with fever prompted her to steal this chance. In recent
years, her only physical pleasure had been a good gallop on a fine
horse—and little enough of that. What a tragic waste. West was
right. Crewe might be in the grave, but still he blighted her
life.
    Once she’d loved kissing. West and she had
whiled away a whole summer with kisses. Even Crewe had known how to
kiss her into a lather of desire, when he could be bothered. It was
what came after