Page 23 of The Duke's Goddess

And then it hit her. She was alone on a balcony with a known rake. What was she thinking? She had only been thinking to update him on their progress and possibly make further plans. When had she let her guard down?

Seeing her panic, he chuckled again. “It’s fine. We’re done here anyway. You can return inside. Safe. Unharmed. Untouched.” The last word he lingered on. And she couldn’t help wondering what more touches from him might feel like. But that path led to ruin.

“Yes. That’s a good idea.” Not the touching. The returning inside. “Here’s your jacket.” She took her free hand to slip out of it, but it was falling too quickly. It was on its way to the ground when James reached behind her and caught the jacket. In the movements, his arm latched around her waist, and she was pressed up against his chest.

His solid, warm chest. With each breath she felt its friction against her breasts, and her nipples were responding.

Her breath hitched in her throat. “Thank you,” she said hoarsely, not really sure why she was thanking him for saving his jacket from hitting the ground.

His voice was just as hoarse, “You’re welcome.” His eyes studied her face. Dropped to her lips. He licked his bottom lip and then dragged his eyes back up to hers.

Joan’s heart hammered in her chest and she was sure he could not only hear it, but feel it as well, thumping against his chest.

“Joan—”

“I thought I saw her go outside,” a new voice entered the conversation from just beyond the door. Joan couldn’t quite distinguish it from the roaring in her ears.

Suddenly her back was pressed against the exterior wall of the building, her front was crushed against James's back as he stood hiding her from the incoming scandal. His body, in conjunction with the opened door were enough to camouflage her in the darkness. She felt…protected.

“Is she out here?” That voice was definitely Mimi’s, and Joan sighed in relief.

“I don’t think so—Oh, James. I didn’t see you there,” Nobi said.

“Just getting some fresh air,” James's voice was shockingly calm.

Joan tapped James on the back with her index finger to communicate. When he moved to the side, she stepped out from behind him.

“Oh!” Nobi startled.

Mimi’s face split into a grin, but all she said was, “There you are. We were looking for you.”

“We came out to discuss our progress on Sally. The rumors seem to have aroused her curiosity.”Aroused?That was the wrong word to use. Too late.

“Splendid,” Mimi said with a clap of her hands. “Everything is going according to plan.”

Chapter 9

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

–Sun Tzu

JAMES WAS FEELING OFF. At first he attributed the feelings to the fact that he hadn’t lain with a woman in a while. But if he was being honest with himself, he had only noticed that he had been feeling a little bit off since Boudicca’s wedding. More specifically, since his dance with Joan. Or perhaps just before that even. The conversation over lemonade had already prickled his…what? His heart? No, surely not. His nether regions? Yes. That was true. Something in his body reacted to Joan, that was undeniable. But he was a rake, and he had plenty of reactions to countless women.

Except…

The way he responded to Joan’s smile. Her laugh. The slight touch of her hand. Those were different. He could honestly say he had never had such strong physical reactions to such innocent gestures. When he danced with her, she fit in his arms so perfectly. And when he had hid her on the balcony, it was to protect her. Not out of self-preservation. Though he still didn’t want to marry, his instinctual reaction had been to preserve her reputation. She was somehow charming, despite being so practical. And her brand of charm particularly charmed him. But when he stopped to think about it, which he didn’t do all that much, he chalked it up to the weddings and all the talk about love.

Really, they mostly spoke of love and marriage and helping their friends fall in love, so it couldn’t be helped that new—and odd—feelings were teeming through him. James pushed those reflections aside.

Under bright sun and blue skies on this fine afternoon, his previously mentioned plans were about to come to fruition. The house party guests had been invited to a picnic, and everyone was lazily gathering in various groups on blankets or chairs provided. Jacob, however, was not of the lazing variety, and James could feel the nervous energy bouncing off of his friend.

James had suggested to Joan that there was no harm in priming Sally for the boating invitation. Since she had seated herself next to Sally, it was no hardship to do that.

“Wouldn’t it be lovely to sit in a rowboat on a day like today? To feel the breeze on your face while out on the pond.” James overheard Joan point out to Sally.

“That sounds quite nice,” Sally said, flitting her eyes over to Jacob who was practically itching a hole into the selection of fabric that was covering his knees. “If only someone was interested in the activity.”

Joan had told James that Sally was shy, but so far, every interaction James had observed of Sally was of her putting herself out there, so he couldn’t help but wonder about Joan’s people reading skills.

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