after Jane Austenâs most renowned hero.
Hawkâs lips twisted. Pia had wound up with Mr. Darcy, so all should be right with the world. Except Mr. Darcy was a damn cat, and Hawk surmised that heâd been cast as the villainous Mr. Wickham in this drama.
Still, he bent and rubbed the cat behind the ears. The feline allowed the contact and then moved to rub himself against Hawkâs leg, leaving behind a trail of stray animal hairs on Hawkâs pants.
When Hawk straightened, he caught Piaâs look of surprise.
âWhat?â he asked. âYou look astonished that Iâd cozy up to your cat.â
âI thought you would be a dog person,â Pia responded. âArenât all of you aristocrats fond of canines? Fox hunting and such?â
Hawk smiled. âAfraid Iâd feed Puss ân Boots here to the dogs?â
âThe possibility wouldnât bear thinking about except that youâve already proven yourself to be a wolf in sheepâs clothing,â Pia retorted.
He gave a feral grin and then, just to annoy her, allowed his gaze to travel over her. âAnd are you Little Red Riding Hood? Is that the fairy tale you prefer these days?â
âI donât prefer any fairy tales,â she shot back. âN-not anymore.â
Hawkâs smile faded. She didnât believe in fairy tales anymore, and he felt responsible for robbing her of her innocence in more ways than one.
Of course, all that made it even more imperative that he change her mind and get her to accept his help. He intended to make restitution of sorts.
He pulled some papers from the inside pocket of his blazer. âI suspected that you might have a change of heart once you had a chance to think about what you were getting into with Lucy.â
âYou were the one who wanted time to review the contract!â she accused. âIâm within my rights to change my mind, and if you donât have any recourse, you have only yourself to blame.â
It was true that when Pia had handed Lucy her standard written wedding services contract on Monday, before sheâd left Hawkâs house, heâd taken the contract in hand and had asked to review it. But only because heâd thought it would give him another opportunity to interact with her when he brought it back to her.
Heâd come here this afternoon directly from work, and was still wearing a navy business suit.
The discussion of the contract, he told himself, would afford him a chance to change her low opinion of him. Maybe he could begin to demonstrate that he wasnât quite the reprobate she thought he was. Not anymore.
âI did do as I said,â he acknowledged, unfolding the paper in his hand. âI did review it.â
Pia arched a brow. âOne wonders why you donât bringthe same thoroughness and discrimination to your choice of dates.â
Hawk stifled the dry chuckle that rose unbidden. âYouâve done some research on me, I take it.â
Pia nodded. âThe internet is a wonderful thing. I believe you were referred to on at least one occasion as Jolly Lord James, his Rollicking Rowdy Ruffianness?â
âRuffian?â Hawk rubbed the bridge of his nose with his finger. âAh, yes, I believe I had my nose broken at least once in a brawl. A useful thing once I became Hawkshire, as I was able to live up to the profile implied.â
âCharming.â
âAnd did your research also reveal how I succeeded to the title of Duke of Hawkshire?â he asked with deceptive casualness.
Pia shook her head. âI believe the tabloids were already fully occupied with your neâer-do-well travails.â
âSo Iâve heard,â he deadpanned. âMuch to my regret, however, my sojourn as the rollicking younger son of the previous Duke of Hawkshire was cut short when my older brother died from injuries sustained in a boating accident.â
He saw Pia
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