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Authors: Cynthia Wright
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behaved as he anticipated; all of his considerable experience with women was going to waste in his dealings with the contrary Lisette Hahn.
"Do you mind, sir?" Her voice, cool and clear, broke into his thoughts. "I have a business to tend."
He met the challenge in her eyes and felt his self-assurance return. Who, for God's sake, did the wench think she was?
"I shall wait, mademoiselle, until you have a moment to spare me—as you had for Marcus Reems." Negligently, he took a rough-hewn chair far across the keeping room and leaned back, his eyes piercingly warm as they contemplated Lisette's face and form.
She forced herself to ignore him, keeping her head bent over the gingerbread so that no one would see the blush that suddenly heated her cheeks. It was as much a mystery to Lisette as the tidal wave of events last night, but she had reached one hard conclusion while walking home before dawn—there was no room in her life for this uncontrollable side of her personality, this physical being who would not listen to the shouted orders of her mind. Lisette had resolved to steer clear of Nicholai Beauvisage, or any other man who tempted her to forget her work and the necessary discipline of her life. It was going to be difficult enough to continue with the CoffeeHouse, simply because she was female.
When the desserts were crowded onto the huge tray, Purity lifted it with shaky triumph. Hyla held the door, then followed the two girls into the CoffeeHouse. Suddenly alone with Nicholai, Lisette hurried over to remove the empty kettle from the fire. She grasped the handle with two thick towels and had begun to turn when a pair of dark, well-made male hands took it from her and set it on the hearth with ease.
Something snapped inside her. Her blue eyes blazed as she confronted Nicholai, determined to settle the matter between them.
"Sir, I have made it plain that I do not want you here. I would hope that you could show me the courtesy of taking the hint without forcing me to call for assistance."
His own eyes were penetrating and slightly amused by her effrontery. "Lisette, how can you say such a thing? I thought I took your hint rather well last night."
She drew her hand back as if to slap him, but stopped in midair. "You are a rude, inconsiderate cad! I do not wish to discuss last night or any other subject with you." The firelight haloed the plaited crown atop her head, suffusing her beauty with golden light. "Please leave my CoffeeHouse."
Nicholai caught her wrist when she began to turn away.
"What is it? Are you going to pretend that we didn't make love last night? I don't want you to hate me and you mustn't worry that that I would tell anyone what transpired between us. If you are angry because you feel I used you—"
"You used me?" One delicate brow arched derisively as she pulled her wrist free. "You men are really incredible! Did it ever occur to you, Mr. Beauvisage, that I used you last night? Women have physical needs, too, and you were conveniently available to ease mine. I am not a simpering coquette, like those you must have grown used to in France! And, for your information, you did not make love to me. I barely know you!"
Though momentarily stunned, Nicholai felt a bubble of delight rise in his throat. "Do you mean to say that I was just one of many? Another dispassionate conquest for you?" His dramatic tone was heavy with amusement.
"Boor!" Lisette hissed disgustedly. She averted her face and took two steps toward the worktable before he caught her in his arms. For a moment, he held her fast, laughing softly as she struggled, then he murmured, "You are remarkably hard-bitten after only a few hours' practice at being a woman of the world! Tell me, how did you satisfy your 'woman's needs' before last night... when you were still a virgin?"
The sudden widening of her eyes was answer enough. Smiling, he cut off her denial with a warm, leisurely kiss, and Lisette gasped at her body's reaction. Reason was
"Do you mind, sir?" Her voice, cool and clear, broke into his thoughts. "I have a business to tend."
He met the challenge in her eyes and felt his self-assurance return. Who, for God's sake, did the wench think she was?
"I shall wait, mademoiselle, until you have a moment to spare me—as you had for Marcus Reems." Negligently, he took a rough-hewn chair far across the keeping room and leaned back, his eyes piercingly warm as they contemplated Lisette's face and form.
She forced herself to ignore him, keeping her head bent over the gingerbread so that no one would see the blush that suddenly heated her cheeks. It was as much a mystery to Lisette as the tidal wave of events last night, but she had reached one hard conclusion while walking home before dawn—there was no room in her life for this uncontrollable side of her personality, this physical being who would not listen to the shouted orders of her mind. Lisette had resolved to steer clear of Nicholai Beauvisage, or any other man who tempted her to forget her work and the necessary discipline of her life. It was going to be difficult enough to continue with the CoffeeHouse, simply because she was female.
When the desserts were crowded onto the huge tray, Purity lifted it with shaky triumph. Hyla held the door, then followed the two girls into the CoffeeHouse. Suddenly alone with Nicholai, Lisette hurried over to remove the empty kettle from the fire. She grasped the handle with two thick towels and had begun to turn when a pair of dark, well-made male hands took it from her and set it on the hearth with ease.
Something snapped inside her. Her blue eyes blazed as she confronted Nicholai, determined to settle the matter between them.
"Sir, I have made it plain that I do not want you here. I would hope that you could show me the courtesy of taking the hint without forcing me to call for assistance."
His own eyes were penetrating and slightly amused by her effrontery. "Lisette, how can you say such a thing? I thought I took your hint rather well last night."
She drew her hand back as if to slap him, but stopped in midair. "You are a rude, inconsiderate cad! I do not wish to discuss last night or any other subject with you." The firelight haloed the plaited crown atop her head, suffusing her beauty with golden light. "Please leave my CoffeeHouse."
Nicholai caught her wrist when she began to turn away.
"What is it? Are you going to pretend that we didn't make love last night? I don't want you to hate me and you mustn't worry that that I would tell anyone what transpired between us. If you are angry because you feel I used you—"
"You used me?" One delicate brow arched derisively as she pulled her wrist free. "You men are really incredible! Did it ever occur to you, Mr. Beauvisage, that I used you last night? Women have physical needs, too, and you were conveniently available to ease mine. I am not a simpering coquette, like those you must have grown used to in France! And, for your information, you did not make love to me. I barely know you!"
Though momentarily stunned, Nicholai felt a bubble of delight rise in his throat. "Do you mean to say that I was just one of many? Another dispassionate conquest for you?" His dramatic tone was heavy with amusement.
"Boor!" Lisette hissed disgustedly. She averted her face and took two steps toward the worktable before he caught her in his arms. For a moment, he held her fast, laughing softly as she struggled, then he murmured, "You are remarkably hard-bitten after only a few hours' practice at being a woman of the world! Tell me, how did you satisfy your 'woman's needs' before last night... when you were still a virgin?"
The sudden widening of her eyes was answer enough. Smiling, he cut off her denial with a warm, leisurely kiss, and Lisette gasped at her body's reaction. Reason was
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