Read Online Hart's Desire (Pirates & Petticoats Book 1) by Chloe Flowers - Free Book Online
Authors: Chloe Flowers
Tags: Historical Romance
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believe his presence didn’t rattle her. She bit the inside of her cheek and willed her fluttering stomach to settle.
She should have expected Uncle Jared to invite the two men to breakfast. She pressed her lips into a thin line; she’d been too distracted by this morning’s events to think ahead clearly.
Uncle Jared continued, “Keelan, I present to you Captain Hart and his business partner, Mr. O'Brien.”
Conal, being the closer, reached her first and bowed grandly. “Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Grey.”
She returned Mr. O'Brien’s bow with a curtsy and a quick smile before she turned to Hart. Since Captain Hart’s back faced the rest of the room, no one but Keelan saw his appraisal moving in slow admiration down the length of her body, making her feel as if she were standing in nothing but her shift. His eyes took on a brightness that betrayed the wayward meandering of his thoughts, which was disconcerting to say the least.
“Miss Grey.” Landon’s voice resonated with warmth and mirth while he bowed and extended his right hand, grinning mischievously.
He knew of her wound yet awaited her to place her hand upon his. Keelan clenched the fist hidden in her skirt. She glared at him and with every fiber of her being, wished his outstretched appendage would fall off. Along with another appendage or two.
He raised a brow then had the audacity to wink.
Of course, to refuse to offer her hand would be embarrassing and rude. If her aunt and uncle noticed her injury, how would she explain it? Seeing no other option, she complied. “Pleasure, Captain Hart.” She tried to give him a tight smile, but her face felt frozen.
He placed his knuckles beneath her palm as a rest then bent to brush his lips across her fingertips. “Believe me when I tell you,” he murmured, “the pleasure is truly mine.” He glanced at the wrap on her thumb and placed a gentle kiss on the injured digit.
Barely keeping herself from flinching at his boldness, a blush crept over her cheeks. She snatched her hand back and hoped the glare she gave him would give him cause to behave better. Although, given what she already knew about the man, it was probably a vain hope.
Dr. Garrison hopped forward and clutched Keelan’s recently released fingers. “Flowers pale next to Miss Grey.” He squeezed her fingers, including her wounded thumb, making her flinch openly this time.
“Goodness, Miss Grey,” Dr. Garrison said, looking down, “What happened to your hand?”
She glanced down and shrugged with what she hoped was a casual air. She hated to lie. She was terrible at it.
“I was in the kitchen house this morning.” That part was true. “I’m afraid I was rather clumsy in the way I handled a knife.” Also true. “But Slaney has treated it and it’s much better.” Still true. She released a tense breath.
“Slaney is very good with her herbs.” Aunt Sarah nodded and turned her attention to her tea.
The doctor led her to a seat next to his, and she could barely suppress a despondent groan.
Captain Hart sat directly across the table from her. Her breath stilled as his gaze traveled leisurely down the length of her neck and paused. She could only surmise he was ogling the more feminine curves her current garments exposed. The heat of a warm flush crept down her neck and across her chest and she fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest. She lowered her brows at him as his gaze returned to capture hers. Smiling, he nodded in return.
She wished his approval didn’t please her, but it did. Accepting a cup of tea, Keelan quietly sipped as she fought for calm. She tried to ignore the voice in her head reminding her that one comment from him could land her and Daniel in serious trouble faster than a butterfly could blink. Everett’s head swiveled from Captain Hart’s direction to her and back again. Had he caught the look she and the captain had exchanged?
Aunt Sarah leaned forward
She should have expected Uncle Jared to invite the two men to breakfast. She pressed her lips into a thin line; she’d been too distracted by this morning’s events to think ahead clearly.
Uncle Jared continued, “Keelan, I present to you Captain Hart and his business partner, Mr. O'Brien.”
Conal, being the closer, reached her first and bowed grandly. “Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Grey.”
She returned Mr. O'Brien’s bow with a curtsy and a quick smile before she turned to Hart. Since Captain Hart’s back faced the rest of the room, no one but Keelan saw his appraisal moving in slow admiration down the length of her body, making her feel as if she were standing in nothing but her shift. His eyes took on a brightness that betrayed the wayward meandering of his thoughts, which was disconcerting to say the least.
“Miss Grey.” Landon’s voice resonated with warmth and mirth while he bowed and extended his right hand, grinning mischievously.
He knew of her wound yet awaited her to place her hand upon his. Keelan clenched the fist hidden in her skirt. She glared at him and with every fiber of her being, wished his outstretched appendage would fall off. Along with another appendage or two.
He raised a brow then had the audacity to wink.
Of course, to refuse to offer her hand would be embarrassing and rude. If her aunt and uncle noticed her injury, how would she explain it? Seeing no other option, she complied. “Pleasure, Captain Hart.” She tried to give him a tight smile, but her face felt frozen.
He placed his knuckles beneath her palm as a rest then bent to brush his lips across her fingertips. “Believe me when I tell you,” he murmured, “the pleasure is truly mine.” He glanced at the wrap on her thumb and placed a gentle kiss on the injured digit.
Barely keeping herself from flinching at his boldness, a blush crept over her cheeks. She snatched her hand back and hoped the glare she gave him would give him cause to behave better. Although, given what she already knew about the man, it was probably a vain hope.
Dr. Garrison hopped forward and clutched Keelan’s recently released fingers. “Flowers pale next to Miss Grey.” He squeezed her fingers, including her wounded thumb, making her flinch openly this time.
“Goodness, Miss Grey,” Dr. Garrison said, looking down, “What happened to your hand?”
She glanced down and shrugged with what she hoped was a casual air. She hated to lie. She was terrible at it.
“I was in the kitchen house this morning.” That part was true. “I’m afraid I was rather clumsy in the way I handled a knife.” Also true. “But Slaney has treated it and it’s much better.” Still true. She released a tense breath.
“Slaney is very good with her herbs.” Aunt Sarah nodded and turned her attention to her tea.
The doctor led her to a seat next to his, and she could barely suppress a despondent groan.
Captain Hart sat directly across the table from her. Her breath stilled as his gaze traveled leisurely down the length of her neck and paused. She could only surmise he was ogling the more feminine curves her current garments exposed. The heat of a warm flush crept down her neck and across her chest and she fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest. She lowered her brows at him as his gaze returned to capture hers. Smiling, he nodded in return.
She wished his approval didn’t please her, but it did. Accepting a cup of tea, Keelan quietly sipped as she fought for calm. She tried to ignore the voice in her head reminding her that one comment from him could land her and Daniel in serious trouble faster than a butterfly could blink. Everett’s head swiveled from Captain Hart’s direction to her and back again. Had he caught the look she and the captain had exchanged?
Aunt Sarah leaned forward
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