Read Online One Scandalous Kiss by Christy Carlyle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christy Carlyle
Ads: Link
own.”
She was grateful he didn’t look at her when he said it. Heat crept up the back of her neck and Jess suspected her cheeks were flushed too. She could count on one hand the sum of compliments she’d received from gentlemen in her life, and certainly none had anything to do with her skills as a businesswoman. It was shockingly gratifying and yet, considering that she’d just lost her business, did she truly deserve it?
“I do have an assistant. Mr. Echolls.”
“Ah, yes. The gentleman in the back room.”
She nodded her head, but he’d turned his back on her and missed the gesture.
Standing near their oldest bit of shelving, his shoulders aligned with a barely discernible series of notches on the side of the bookcase. It was where Father had marked off her height as she grew year after year. Lord Grimsby’s shoulders crested the highest notch by several inches. No wonder she’d had to crane her neck and stand on the tips of her toes to kiss him.
The memory of their kiss set loose the warmth in her cheeks and it flowed to her limbs in a pleasurable rush.
Foolish woman. That kiss had been her downfall. She’d lost her father’s shop over that kiss. It was madness to recall it with anything but regret.
“Why are you here, my lord?”
He looked at her again, capturing her gaze in a glance that made her shiver. He stalked toward her in two long strides, and it took every bit of strength she had left to stand her ground. Like the night before, he was so close she had to tilt her head to look up and meet his eyes.
She thought he might touch her. A kind of blue fire burned in his gaze.
“Don’t you know, Miss Wright? Don’t you know why I’m here?”
“I . . .” She meant to offer up one of her theories, but his tantalizing scent sent her thoughts scattering. It was a familiar scent to her now. Just that morning she’d imagined she could smell it lingering on her clothes.
“I could give you money.”
Tension coiled in her belly at his words. Money was what she needed most, though she doubted Mr. Briggs would accept any amount from her now. But why would Lord Grimsby offer her money? Charity? She’d never take that again. And there could be no fair exchange. She had nothing with which to bargain.
Was he asking her to be his mistress? Did he respect her so little?
She thought of her behavior the previous evening and a wry grin twisted her mouth. She’d already kissed him, brazenly, without permission or even an introduction. Why wouldn’t he expect her to do much more for money now that she’d lost her business?
“Why, my lord?” She wanted to hear him say it, to admit his desire or that he thought her as dishonorable as those who’d witnessed her foolish act.
But her words seemed to douse the fire in him. He blinked and took several steps back. She thought he’d turn and walk out. The blaze had gone and there was only finality in his gaze.
He’d go and leave her to face the results of her actions alone. Just as her father had left her alone to deal with his debts and bad choices. Though now, this trouble, this had been her choice. She found a strange sort of comfort in that. That made it easier to face somehow.
She lifted her chin and looked Lord Grimsby square in the eyes. “I do not wish to be a charity case, my lord. There are many other worthy causes if you wish to give your money away. Thank you for calling. Good day, my lord.”
But he wasn’t finished with her. He didn’t respond, but he took two steps toward her, nearly as close as they’d been the night before.
“I can’t forget.” He touched her the moment the three words were out of his mouth. No bargain. No gawking socialites. Just the warm press of his fingertips against her skin. He was gentle, his touch reverent as he explored the curve of her cheek. He touched her as if she were precious, as if she mattered, even now when she’d lost everything.
Jess swayed toward him, and he reached for her, wrapping
She was grateful he didn’t look at her when he said it. Heat crept up the back of her neck and Jess suspected her cheeks were flushed too. She could count on one hand the sum of compliments she’d received from gentlemen in her life, and certainly none had anything to do with her skills as a businesswoman. It was shockingly gratifying and yet, considering that she’d just lost her business, did she truly deserve it?
“I do have an assistant. Mr. Echolls.”
“Ah, yes. The gentleman in the back room.”
She nodded her head, but he’d turned his back on her and missed the gesture.
Standing near their oldest bit of shelving, his shoulders aligned with a barely discernible series of notches on the side of the bookcase. It was where Father had marked off her height as she grew year after year. Lord Grimsby’s shoulders crested the highest notch by several inches. No wonder she’d had to crane her neck and stand on the tips of her toes to kiss him.
The memory of their kiss set loose the warmth in her cheeks and it flowed to her limbs in a pleasurable rush.
Foolish woman. That kiss had been her downfall. She’d lost her father’s shop over that kiss. It was madness to recall it with anything but regret.
“Why are you here, my lord?”
He looked at her again, capturing her gaze in a glance that made her shiver. He stalked toward her in two long strides, and it took every bit of strength she had left to stand her ground. Like the night before, he was so close she had to tilt her head to look up and meet his eyes.
She thought he might touch her. A kind of blue fire burned in his gaze.
“Don’t you know, Miss Wright? Don’t you know why I’m here?”
“I . . .” She meant to offer up one of her theories, but his tantalizing scent sent her thoughts scattering. It was a familiar scent to her now. Just that morning she’d imagined she could smell it lingering on her clothes.
“I could give you money.”
Tension coiled in her belly at his words. Money was what she needed most, though she doubted Mr. Briggs would accept any amount from her now. But why would Lord Grimsby offer her money? Charity? She’d never take that again. And there could be no fair exchange. She had nothing with which to bargain.
Was he asking her to be his mistress? Did he respect her so little?
She thought of her behavior the previous evening and a wry grin twisted her mouth. She’d already kissed him, brazenly, without permission or even an introduction. Why wouldn’t he expect her to do much more for money now that she’d lost her business?
“Why, my lord?” She wanted to hear him say it, to admit his desire or that he thought her as dishonorable as those who’d witnessed her foolish act.
But her words seemed to douse the fire in him. He blinked and took several steps back. She thought he’d turn and walk out. The blaze had gone and there was only finality in his gaze.
He’d go and leave her to face the results of her actions alone. Just as her father had left her alone to deal with his debts and bad choices. Though now, this trouble, this had been her choice. She found a strange sort of comfort in that. That made it easier to face somehow.
She lifted her chin and looked Lord Grimsby square in the eyes. “I do not wish to be a charity case, my lord. There are many other worthy causes if you wish to give your money away. Thank you for calling. Good day, my lord.”
But he wasn’t finished with her. He didn’t respond, but he took two steps toward her, nearly as close as they’d been the night before.
“I can’t forget.” He touched her the moment the three words were out of his mouth. No bargain. No gawking socialites. Just the warm press of his fingertips against her skin. He was gentle, his touch reverent as he explored the curve of her cheek. He touched her as if she were precious, as if she mattered, even now when she’d lost everything.
Jess swayed toward him, and he reached for her, wrapping
Similar Books
