Page 26 of Tempting a Gentleman
“Well, as you can see, I’m still breathing.” Christopher clenched his jaw. After his disastrous evening with Emma, even the act of filling his lungs was a task. He’d never experienced such acute pain in his chest as he had leaving Emma’s store. He had no desire to ever endure such agony again. Yet the flashes of his future continued to feature Emma.
“Then who died?”
Not who butwhathad died within him. Hope. Desire. Dreams of a different future. Love. The hollow feeling inside him wasn’t due to the death of any one of those things, but perhaps all of them.
Landon unfolded and leaned forward. “Brother?”
He blinked, and his brother came into focus. “Beg pardon?”
“You only ever skip a meal when someone you know has passed. So who was it? Must have been someone you deeply cared for you to forgo food for three days.” Landon’s gaze, filled with concern, tracked his movements as Christopher rested his elbows upon the desk and rubbed his aching temples.
Christopher sighed. “No one has died.” He was exhausted, and there was no point in continuing the conversation that would merely result in more hours of brooding over Emma.
“Then what is the matter?”
This wasn’t something his big brother could assist him with, and telling Landon as much would only agitate the man more. “Nothing. Don’t you have more pressing duties than harp on about my eating habits?”
Straightening and crossing his arms in front of his chest, Landon said, “Mama threatened to come down here and feed you like a babe if I didn’t resolve whatever it was that was causing your lack of self-care. Shall I inform her to proceed with her visit?”
The shiver that ran down his spine was fierce. Christopher wouldn’t put it past his mama to do such a ghastly thing. “It’s a woman.”
“It always is. Who is this woman?” Landon drummed his fingers against his upper arm. “I’m not leaving until I have a name.”
It wasn’t a threat, it was a statement, and Landon was never easily dissuaded.
“Emma.”
“My wife’s best friend. The woman you claimed was merely a friend.” Landon’s voice deepened to a bone-chilling tone. “A woman who is a key Network member under my protection.”
“Yes. Emma Lennox.”
A lesser man might have flinched at his brother's stern bark. “What happened?”
Christopher raised his head and snapped, “Nothing happened. That’s the problem. Emma wants naught to do with me.” He had been fooled by the woman’s responsive kisses. His plan to court her out of the sight of prying eyes and meddling members of family and Network had failed. But under his big brother's disconcerting gaze, he finally admitted to the heart of the matter. “All I want is to be in the same room as her.”
“Interesting. A woman who isn’t tempted by your handsome features or your charm and wit.” The corner of Landon’s mouth quirked up, revealing his blasted dimple. “Hmm…I don’t believe it. Emma is a fine judge of character. Are you sure she doesn’t return your regard?”
“How can one mistake silence? She didn’t deny that the only reason she agreed to see me was because of her blasted oath.”
Landon’s features relaxed and his eyes softened with what Christopher guessed was sympathy. “Why did you arrange the meetings with Emma?”
“Obviously to court her.”
“Why? As a means to obtain the mark?”
Christopher stared at his brother. Granted, they hadn’t been in each other’s company much these past two years, but Landon couldn’t seriously believe he would consider marrying someone he didn’t care for. Love. He stood and meandered over to the window. Since Landon brought up the topic of the mark, Christopher asked, “Do you not think me worthy to receive the mark?”
“What a preposterous statement. Of course, you are worthy. It’s just that once you receive it, your life will be forever changed.”
“No. Our lives were altered the day our cousin Baldwin died.” Christopher peered out the window. Men assigned to Landon’s protection patrolled the perimeter. He turned back to find Landon pacing. Christopher waited until his brother turned toward him before saying, “Do you ever wish…”
“Yes, every damn day. I wish he had survived and inherited the title and the role of Head PORF. With every decision or order I make, I instantly question what Baldwin would have done. Would our cousin have retained and claimed the blasted rondure that made me head of this whole mess, or would he have managed somehow to bury it and hide it from all once again?”
The material of Landon’s greatcoat fell to the side as he placed a fisted hand upon his hip, revealing the bandage about his ribs.
Striding to come face-to-face with his brother, Christopher grabbed Landon by the shoulders. “Good lord, what happened to you?”
Landon shrugged him off and resumed pacing. His brother was never one to stay still. It was why he was more suited to the courtroom than sitting in mediation. “Nothing to fuss over. I merely had a coughing spell. The doctor believes I might have fractured a rib or two.”
