Page 46 of A Rogue to Ruin
Rafe pivoted so he could see them both.
John gave her a small smile. “Yes.”
“How wonderful,” she murmured. “I should have realized you owned a shop here, given how much you like the street. And books. How long have you owned this shop?”
Once again, they were venturing too close to things he didn’t want to share. Except, he almost wanted to. “Several years.”
“Earls don’t typically own shops.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up.”
Rafe shot a look toward John, whose brow creased with confusion. He’d have to explain everything to the shopkeeper. There weresomany people he needed to explain this to.
Turning back toward Anne, Rafe gestured toward the door. “Shall we go across the street to the coffee house?”
“Yes, but first I need a copy of that book.” She went to John. “Would you mind directing me to where I can find it?”
John moved to a display with a stack of books and plucked one from the table. “Nearly our last copy. It’s been very popular.”
“Annie made a good choice, then.” Anne took the book and then reached into her pocket, presumably for money to make the purchase.
“Consider it a gift.” Rafe ignored the elevated eyebrows of the shopkeeper.
“Thank you.” She didn’t turn away from John. Instead, she asked him a question. “You’ve known Mr. Bowles for some time?”
The confusion he’d displayed when she’d mentioned earls flashed across his features. John coughed. “Yes, Mr.Bowles.”
Rafe pressed his lips together. “Come, Mrs. D.” He clasped her elbow gently.
Anne waved at John and bid him goodbye before they left the shop. “Should I not have called you Mr. Bowles? You have too many identities.”
A laugh caught in his throat. He coughed instead. “Yes.”
“Hopefully, you will tell me all of them someday.” She gave him a warm smile as he guided her carefully across the street between the slow-moving vehicles.
Rafe would never do that—not all of them. He wanted to regain the lighthearted air they’d enjoyed before Annie had tried to steal from his shop. “Can Lord Bodyguard be the only one that counts? At least, as far as you’re concerned.”
She looked up at him as they approached the door to the coffee shop. “It will always be.”
A tremor rippled through him, and he hated that he’d told her to dress like a man. He couldn’t touch her in any way he wanted to, not even to help her into the shop.
Chapter Coffee House was more crowded than on their last visit. Still, Rafe was able to secure them a table at the back. “Tea?” he asked.
Anne took one of the two chairs at the small, round table. “Coffee, please.” She gave him a serene look and folded her hands in her lap.
He leaned down and whispered, “You’re sitting like a lady. Put one hand on your knee and spread your legs a bit.”
She blushed slightly but did as he suggested.
“And stop blushing.” The urge to press his lips against the outer edge of her ear or trail his tongue down to her earlobe was nearly overwhelming. He hurriedly took himself to the counter and ordered their coffees.
Belatedly, he realized he should have asked her why she was ordering coffee when she clearly didn’t like it. He’d been too distracted.
Shaking himself, he carried their cups back to the table and set them down. He took his seat, noting that her regular color had returned and she was doing her best not to sit like a lady. In fact, her legs were rather far apart, and goddammit if he wasn’t distracted all over again.
“Why are you drinking coffee?” he asked, sounding disgruntled because of his unbridled lust. God, was that it?Yes.Anne had tied him in knots since practically the moment they’d met. “You don’t like it.”
“Don’t I?” She arched her brow as she gave him a saucy look. Picking up the cup, she took a long sip, then sighed with contentment as she put it down. “I’ve spent the last three months learning to like it. Now, I’m afraid I can’t get through the morning without my cup of coffee.”
He stared at her. She’d learned to like it? “Why would you do that?”
