Read Online Face to Face (The Deverell Series Book 2) by Susan Ward - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan Ward
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her.
She could not bring herself to meet the heat of his gaze. How childish she must seem to him hiding here in the grass, for surely that was what she had done, and surely he knew it. His touch chided her it had been a pointless pretense to hide from him. It would not change what was in her. Hiding would not make her stop loving him.
“Are you going to stay out-of-doors all night to avoid me or would you like to come see what I brought you?” said Varian softly.
She thought of pug and the garments he had purchased for her in Bermuda. The memory of those nights taunted her. A present . Jealousy leapt through Merry like an exploding powder keg. The gift confirmed for her he had been with Regina.
She snatched her palm away, grateful for her fast rising temper. It blocked out all other things she’d been feeling. Her face was red with fury when she turned to him. “You think I’m a child. Do you think I can be so easily managed? I am not a child and I do not care what you brought me.”
The corners of Varian’s eyes began to play with a smile. “There is no cause for your jealousy, Little One. The present is not from me. I am merely the courier.”
“I am not jealous. You are an arrogant and conceited man if you think I pass a moment’s thought over what you do.”
She watched Varian lever himself upright, trying to concentrate on anything but the sensual moves of his limber body. “I went to Richmond to sell my cargo, Merry.”
“If that is the best fiction you can think of, you could have saved yourself the bother. I am not the Devereauxs. I am not a fool. And it matters not to me if you pass your nights with that blond sow.” Then her temper getting the better of her, she added scathingly, “But really, you insufferable man, your taste in women is dreadful. Do you make it a habit to seek out every blond sow on every continent?”
Varian stayed as he was, still, until Merry quieted. Then he said with quiet firmness, “When a man wants to care for nothing, he selects women he can never care for. That Regina could not ever matter to me was her only appeal. Even that appeal was abolished long before we reached Richmond.”
“How extraordinary! I must be perfect in that regard. What could matter less than a vexing nuisance you kidnapped.”
“Be fair, Little One. I did not kidnap you. You were given to me. I was merely wise enough to keep you.” He moved toward her, but did not touch her. The pressure of his eyes made it unbearable for Merry not to look at him. His voice was a soft caress against her face. “There have been no women in my bed for many months, Little One. I went to Richmond only to sell my cargo.”
This time Merry looked at him. A quick inspection of his face told her he was speaking truth. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she did. And it was an untimely discovery because it made the anger gush out of her with the inflow of too many things she did not want to feel. Afraid she would let down her guard, she hissed, “Damn you,” and before she knew what she had done, she slapped him.
Varian began to laugh and because he couldn’t seem to stop the laughter, she tried to slap him again. “No, Little One,” he finally managed to gasp. “You’ve got your clichés reversed. You do not hit a man when he professes he’s hopelessly captivated by you. You hit him when he’s been a rogue. Will you stop trying to hit me, if I promise to go commit a debauchery or two? What a vexing creature you are at times.”
Merry shook off his gentle hand holding her arm and took a step back from him. “You’re a fine one to talk about having our clichés reversed,” she snapped, eyes flashing. “You deserve to be slapped for that comment alone.”
“Perhaps,” he said, a smile teasing at his lips this time. “But I cannot make up for past misdeeds, only endeavor to do my best not to repeat them.”
Gathering back her retreating dignity, she said, “Then return me to Falmouth and let
She could not bring herself to meet the heat of his gaze. How childish she must seem to him hiding here in the grass, for surely that was what she had done, and surely he knew it. His touch chided her it had been a pointless pretense to hide from him. It would not change what was in her. Hiding would not make her stop loving him.
“Are you going to stay out-of-doors all night to avoid me or would you like to come see what I brought you?” said Varian softly.
She thought of pug and the garments he had purchased for her in Bermuda. The memory of those nights taunted her. A present . Jealousy leapt through Merry like an exploding powder keg. The gift confirmed for her he had been with Regina.
She snatched her palm away, grateful for her fast rising temper. It blocked out all other things she’d been feeling. Her face was red with fury when she turned to him. “You think I’m a child. Do you think I can be so easily managed? I am not a child and I do not care what you brought me.”
The corners of Varian’s eyes began to play with a smile. “There is no cause for your jealousy, Little One. The present is not from me. I am merely the courier.”
“I am not jealous. You are an arrogant and conceited man if you think I pass a moment’s thought over what you do.”
She watched Varian lever himself upright, trying to concentrate on anything but the sensual moves of his limber body. “I went to Richmond to sell my cargo, Merry.”
“If that is the best fiction you can think of, you could have saved yourself the bother. I am not the Devereauxs. I am not a fool. And it matters not to me if you pass your nights with that blond sow.” Then her temper getting the better of her, she added scathingly, “But really, you insufferable man, your taste in women is dreadful. Do you make it a habit to seek out every blond sow on every continent?”
Varian stayed as he was, still, until Merry quieted. Then he said with quiet firmness, “When a man wants to care for nothing, he selects women he can never care for. That Regina could not ever matter to me was her only appeal. Even that appeal was abolished long before we reached Richmond.”
“How extraordinary! I must be perfect in that regard. What could matter less than a vexing nuisance you kidnapped.”
“Be fair, Little One. I did not kidnap you. You were given to me. I was merely wise enough to keep you.” He moved toward her, but did not touch her. The pressure of his eyes made it unbearable for Merry not to look at him. His voice was a soft caress against her face. “There have been no women in my bed for many months, Little One. I went to Richmond only to sell my cargo.”
This time Merry looked at him. A quick inspection of his face told her he was speaking truth. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she did. And it was an untimely discovery because it made the anger gush out of her with the inflow of too many things she did not want to feel. Afraid she would let down her guard, she hissed, “Damn you,” and before she knew what she had done, she slapped him.
Varian began to laugh and because he couldn’t seem to stop the laughter, she tried to slap him again. “No, Little One,” he finally managed to gasp. “You’ve got your clichés reversed. You do not hit a man when he professes he’s hopelessly captivated by you. You hit him when he’s been a rogue. Will you stop trying to hit me, if I promise to go commit a debauchery or two? What a vexing creature you are at times.”
Merry shook off his gentle hand holding her arm and took a step back from him. “You’re a fine one to talk about having our clichés reversed,” she snapped, eyes flashing. “You deserve to be slapped for that comment alone.”
“Perhaps,” he said, a smile teasing at his lips this time. “But I cannot make up for past misdeeds, only endeavor to do my best not to repeat them.”
Gathering back her retreating dignity, she said, “Then return me to Falmouth and let
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