Page 12 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

Derrek watched the gesture with a pulse of longing. He would have liked his to be the hand that smoothed over the beautiful tailor’s face. Jeremy was either quite adept at shaving or didn’t have the need to shave that often. His skin was unblemished and his angular jaw didn’t look as though it needed grooming.

“I would pray with you,” Derrek said, “but firstly, I am not on the best of terms with the Divine, and secondly, men who would attempt to run someone down with a carriage and poison a king rarely give up if they are not immediately successful.”

As soon as the words were out of Derrek’s mouth, he regretted speaking them. Jeremy swallowed hard, looking like he might be sick. He sunk in on himself a little too much for Derrek’s liking. A man like Jeremy should be brimming with life and confidence, particularly given how successful he was, not cowering with fear and suspicion.

“You are protected,” he insisted, reaching across the table to rest a hand over Jeremy’s. “I swear that I will not let any harm come to you.”

Jeremy stared at Derrek’s hand over his for a moment then glanced up at Derrek with deep gratitude in the warm, brown pools of his eyes. “You have no idea how much this means to me,” he said softly. “I have spent my entire life working for what I have, and given my nature, I have felt alone for too much of that time.”

Dammit, Derrek’s inclinations were to flirt with the man and have a bit of fun with him. He was not supposed to let Jeremy’s sweetness penetrate through to his heart. His cock, yes, but his heart would do well to stay out of things.

He was spared from the precious awkwardness of the moment by a rattle of plates and saucers as Minnie nearly tripped while making her way over to them.

“Sorry,” one of the men who had just taken the table she’d cleared said. “I am so terribly sorry. I did not mean to stick my foot out like that.”

“No harm done,” Minnie said as if she’d had a fright.

“Allow me,” the other gentleman at the table said, taking her tray and setting it on their table as the first one stood and helped Minnie by brushing what looked like crumbs from crushed biscuits off her apron.

Jeremy twisted to see what was going on, but since everything with Minnie seemed to be in order, he turned back to Derrek. “What I mean to say,” he continued where they’d left off, “is that I am grateful for your friendship and the lengths you are going to for me.”

“Not at all,” Derrek said with a smile, one eye on the fuss involving Minnie, but most of his attention on Jeremy. “Believe me, it is my pleasure.”

He stroked the back of Jeremy’s hand a bit before pulling away.

Jeremy flushed all over again. The man truly was charming. Derrek considered that perhaps the two of them could meet for coffee, or something stronger, at The Chameleon Club someday soon. Then he wouldn’t have to hide his flirting. The two of them might even be able to make use of one of the upstairs rooms at the club to become much better acquainted with each other.

“Excuse me.”

Derrek turned to frown at the man from the other table for interrupting the lovely moment between him and Jeremy.

“I thought I would bring these over to you, since the girl there seems to be a bit preoccupied,” the man went on, setting down two cups of coffee in front of Derrek and Jeremy.

“Thank you kindly,” Jeremy said, moving his hands off the table entirely, like the man might see the impression of Derrek’s fingers on the back of his hand.

The man from the other table nodded, then hurried back to his companion.

“What do we do next?” Jeremy restated his earlier question, clearly flustered at the interruption. “I am grateful for the men you sent to guard my shop, but I also worry they might dissuade business.”

“Have they interfered with your customers in any way?” Derrek asked, reaching for his cup.

“Not precisely,” Jeremy said, merely staring at his cup. “They are rather large, though.”

Derrek laughed instead of taking a sip of coffee. He ended up setting his cup down again as he said, “They are supposed to be large. They are protectors.”

“I’m not certain my clientele is used to protectors,” Jeremy said with a knowing look, reaching for his cup at last.

They were interrupted once again as Minnie came toward them with her now empty tray. “I am terribly sorry,” she apologized.

Before either Derrek or Jeremy could say anything, one of the men sitting at the table nearest theirs spoke up with, “I beg your pardon, miss, but why were those men served before us? We were here first.”

Derrek set his cup down and rolled his eyes. He’d seen too many men like them before. “Here,” he said, reaching for both his cup and Jeremy’s and handing them to the impatient gentlemen. “They’re all yours.”

The impatient gentlemen looked grudgingly grateful as they took the cups and started drinking.

“Deary me,” Minnie said as if she would have preferred to curse. “I’ll fetch the two of you fresh cups.”

She turned to go. As she went, Derrek noticed the two men who had been at the other table get up suddenly and race for the door, as if they’d just remembered a pressing engagement.

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