Page 24 of The Trouble with Anna

“No. But I should hate for that information to reach Charlotte.”

“I don’t think it would surprise her.”

“I won’t have Charlotte involved in any discord.”

“But—”

“That’s enough,” he said sharply.

Lady Anna went still. “Of course, my lord. Shall we turn back now?”

They tramped back toward Chatham single file and in silence, with Anna staring at Ramsay’s broad back. It was an engrossing sight—powerful shoulders poured into the dark maroon of his jacket, dark curls flirting with the white of his collar, andfinallya spattering of mud on his perfectly polished boots. But although Anna couldn’t seem to stop stealing glances, she also wanted to throw something at him. Preferably something wet, that squelched.

Ramsay was simply too confusing. One moment he made humiliating offers of marriage, the next he flirted wildly in a carriage, and then, just as she was beginning to think they might actually find an equilibrium, he confounded her by going cold and lordly again. If the dratted man was truly brainless enough to think she wouldmarry him—

Lord Ramsay stopped abruptly and turned toward her, and Anna, steaming along on pure righteousness, plowed into him.

“Oh!” she said, suddenly plastered against his chest with her nose nestled deep in his cravat. She had the strangest urge to press closer and inhale.

Ramsay grabbed hold of her arms and steadied her.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice so low that she felt it in her belly.

Anna nodded mutely, but it was a lie. She’d breached the invisible line between them and now his impossible warmth surrounded her, winding around her like a cat. Her senses lit, one by one. Her skin woke up, her pulse bucked frantically and began to gallop, and she was suddenly aware of how each breath parted her lips and pushed her chest toward him.

Resist!cried a faint voice, but it sounded so far away and Ramsay was so near.

Her eyes locked with his.

Resist!cried the voice again, but it must have known the battle was lost because it gave a low wail of defeat and went silent.

Ramsay lowered his head toward her slowly, so unbearably slowly, that Anna thought she might die.

“Oh, just get on with it!” she cried.

Which was why Ramsay was laughing when his lips touched hers. Anna gave a shocked breath, her mouth opening wider. He rumbled his approval and pulled her even closer, drawing on her bottom lip and coaxing her tongue into his mouth.

“Oh!” said Anna, and it was half a breath and half a gasp.

She raised up on her toes, sparking like a meteor shower, and the kiss exploded. His great muscles clenched and he took her jaw in his hand to angle it up, as if he suddenly couldn’t get enough of her, as if nothing in the world was more important than the feel of her mouth.

“Christ,” Ramsay growled, breaking off. He clutched her hard against his chest, and Anna shut her eyes tight and concentrated on the rise and fall of his muscles beneath her cheek, the press of his hand low on her back.

Ramsay hadkissedher.

Kissed her!

Thoroughly.

Anna thought her cheeks might crisp to cinders and fall off. Her brain boiled away in a cloud of steam. All she had left was instinct, which was why she pushed away and straightened her dress, staring down at the mess of leaves beneath her feet.

“Lady Anna.” The gravel rasp of his voice dragged through her belly. “Shall we walk?”

Anna gulped down some cold air and nodded, setting off down the trail at speed.

Oh god, she’d intended to call a truce with the man. Not crawl up his chest!

“I did mean walk, Lady Anna.” He laughed, but with a lingering heat. “Not gallop.”

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