Page 79 of The Trouble with Anna

His chest was moving in and out, all seething male muscle, and she let her hands wander. “I suppose you could stand aside and look handsome?”

Julian growled, the sound such an intriguing rumble that Anna leaned over and nipped his jaw.

“Bite me again and I bite you back,” he warned.

“Ooh! Is that a threat or is it a bribe?”

“Both, you scoundrel.” He swooped in to kiss her. A few moments later he was sweating and his jaw was clenched.

“You will be the death of me,” he said sternly, pushing her off his lap and yanking the door open.

Anna’s lips were swollen and humming, but the lightness inside her was caused by something else entirely.

Trust him, urged a voice inside, and Anna had to admit that she did trust him, more every day.

Love him, the voice said.

To that, she had no answer.

CHAPTER33

JULIAN ARRANGED TO TAKE ANNAfor a drive that week, not out on the Promenade at the fashionable hour but on Hampstead Heath at the preposterous time of ten in the morning, when they could let the horses have their heads. He pulled up in his new phaeton, enameled glossy black except for the cherry-red spokes of its enormous wheels, with a high-spirited pair of matched grays between the traces.

But for once it wasn’t the horses that caught Anna’s attention. Julian held the reins loosely, his greatcoat flung over his shoulders, and the black wool of his jacket clinging to his chest and powerful arms. The sun lit up his face, bronzing his jaw and the planes of his cheeks, and painting streaks of gold in his hair.

“Deargod,” said Anna. She staggered backward from her perch by the window, feeling quite drunk.

“Ooh! Are the Royal Hussars marching by?” Charlotte, up early for once, dashed over. “I do love it when men prance around in their regimentals.” Her face fell when she saw her brother out the window. “Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she said with disgust.

Anna yanked herself away from the window and crammed on her hat. “I’d better not keep him waiting.”

She was out of the room and on the street before Charlottecould say anything else, though Anna challenged any woman not related to him to remain unmoved at the sight of Julian rolling up to her door in a sporting carriage. Swooning seemed quite a reasonable response.

“Good morning,” called Julian.

“Good morning.” Anna took his hand and hopped up onto the high seat, quick as a monkey. “May I drive, please?”

He stifled a laugh. “I’m shocked you managed to greet me before asking.”

“Of course I greeted you. You’re the best of all Julians! Now, hand me the reins.”

He shook his head, but there was a smile lurking at the corners of his lips. “No one handles the grays but me.”

“Oh dear, I can see the dilemma. You’re afraid I’ll drive them better than you?”

Julian laughed. “I can see you’re determined to have my pride as well as my h—” He fumbled to a stop, reddening.

Anna’s heart beat faster. “What did you say?”

“I said you’re determined to have my pride as well as myhands.All over you.” He clicked the horses into a brisk trot.

Anna studied him from under the brim of her hat. It wasn’t lost on her how little he liked to talk about anything serious—such as the deeply fascinating topic of how he felt about her, for instance. She also saw how good he was at changing the subject when she tried to poke or prod. But understanding him felt more urgent every day. “That’s not what you were about to—”

“You’re confident you can handle the reins in London traffic?”

All thought fled Anna’s brain. “There’s an excellent way to find out.”

“If you’ve never driven in the city, you should—”

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