Page 21 of The Hellion and the Captain
Rhys narrowed his eyes, his jaw clenching. She was infuriating, the way she seemed to see right through him. But there was something about her brazenness, her refusal to back down, that he couldn’t help but find intriguing.
“Perhaps we should change the subject,” he suggested, trying to regain control of this discussion. His teammates had gone back to their own topics of conversation, but he could tell they all had one ear on his exchange with Miss Whitmore. “I wouldn’t want to bore you with the details of my personal life.”
“Oh, I’m not bored at all,” Emmaline said, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table. “In fact, I find you oddly fascinating, Mr. Lockwood. Please, do go on.”
Rhys couldn’t help but chuckle at her audacity, sensing Colin’s stare, knowing it was because he laughed so infrequently, but then, not much amused him. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”
“I prefer the term ‘determined,’“ Emmaline corrected him, a playful smile on her lips. “And I’mdeterminedto unravel the mystery that is Rhys Lockwood.”
“There’s no mystery to unravel,” he insisted, taking a swig of his own ale. “I’m a simple man with simple needs.”
“Oh, I highly doubt that,” Emmaline said, her gaze roaming over his face as if she were trying to read his thoughts. “I think there’s much more to you than meets the eye.”
Rhys shifted in his seat, feeling both unnerved andintrigued by her scrutiny. He opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the sound of chairs scraping against the floor as several of his teammates stood up. Mickey was yawning, Hardy stretching his arms out wide to the side. Even Colin and Lily looked ready to leave, but instead of appearing tired, they seemed much more interested in time alone.
“Well, lads, I think it’s time we called it a night,” Colin announced, his arm wrapped securely around Lily’s waist, holding her tightly against him.
The other men murmured their agreement, downing the last of their drinks. Rhys glanced at Emmaline, who seemed to be lost in thought, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup.
“I should probably be getting home as well,” she said, almost to herself.
Rhys found himself speaking before he could think better of it. “I’ll see you home.”
Lily looked over at them, opened her mouth as though to say something — likely to offer their intention of doing so — but then stopped, shaking her head with a small smile on her lips as she said goodnight to Emmaline.
“I can get there myself,” Miss Whitmore said stubbornly — of course.
He shook his head. “It’s not safe for a lady.”
Emmaline looked up at him, surprise flickering across her face before it was replaced by that easy, teasing grin. “Why, Mr. Lockwood, are you concerned for my virtue?”
He rolled his eyes, standing. “Hardly. I’m more concerned for the poor sod who might try to accost you and end up on the receiving end of your sharp tongue.”
She laughed at that, a genuine, throaty sound that made something in his chest tighten. She stood as well, smoothing out the skirts of her awful dress. “Very well, then. Lead the way, my gallant protector.”
Rhys snorted but couldn’t deny the warmth that spreadthrough him at her proximity. He said goodnight to his teammates, placing his hand on the small of Emmaline’s back as he led her to the door of the pub, unable to help the part of him that wanted everyone to think that she was off limits, that — for tonight, at least — she was his to look after, to take care of.
They stepped out into the evening air, the temperature having greatly cooled over the past few hours.
Rhys had to stop himself from holding out his arm or taking her hand in his — it would be too much, when they were nothing more than acquaintances, friends of friends.
“Tell me about Williams.”
She stopped so suddenly it took him awhile to realize she wasn’t still walking beside him.
“Williams?” she said, her eyes wide.
“Emmett Williams. When I mentioned his name, it seemed as though you knew him.”
“Why would I know him? I told you I didn’t.”
Her eyes narrowed on him, and he studied her. She wasn’t telling the full truth, that he knew, but he didn’t see a way to push it any further.
“Never mind,” he murmured. “I made an error.”
She nodded and after a couple of minutes, their easy banter fortunately returned, the conversation flowing between them. Rhys found himself laughing more than he had in a long time, his earlier irritation with her nearly forgotten. There was something about Miss Whitmore that drew him in, made him want to know more about her.
He should find her a hack to see her home, but he was enjoying walking with her so much that he didn’t want to give up on this time with her.
