Page 72 of Snowbound Regency Christmas
Devin winked at her. ‘Yes.’
Her eyes grew and her mouth widened into a perfect O. ‘Scapegrace.’
‘Did you like whatyousaw, my little baggage?’
She pursed her lips and shook her head. ‘No.’
‘What a fibster,’ Devin said, tracing her collarbone with gentle fingers.
Julia sucked in a breath and then whimpered when he moved his hand away from her skin. She grabbed his hand and put it back on her collarbone. ‘I might have prevaricated a little.’
‘It was a complete bouncer.’
She made a noise of assent, for he was caressing the square collar of her gown—which seemed to make her body boneless against his. Devin couldn’t resist covering her mouth with his and kissing her one last time. Thoroughly.
The walls of Broadwick Abbey might not have been thick, but if Devin wasn’t careful he would well and truly compromise Julia before they had time for the courtship she needed. He forced himself to get to his feet and pulled her up next to him, making his blood boil with need for her.
Attempting to repair her fallen curls, the tips of Julia’s ears turned pink. ‘Did you like what you saw? I mean, me?’
‘I can hardly wait to court you. Does that answer your question?’
‘Yes.’
‘Would you mind coming to London after the holiday so that we can continue our courtship? I must return to Lincoln’s Inn and my clients.’
‘Yes, but we must travel to Town together,’ Julia said, surprising Devin by giving him a hot, wet kiss. ‘The London road is quite dangerous. There are thieves on the loose and I don’t know if you’re up on all the rigs.’
‘Thanks to you, my love, there are two less thieves on the loose. I placed information with the constable and he arrested them both. The bridle culls are currently locked up tight in the roundhouse and will travel back to London on the next mail coach for their trial.’
‘You still might need me.’
Despite wanting nothing more than to kiss her, Devin’s lips curled up into a smile. Courting Julia would never be dull. ‘I will not go anywhere without you again.’
‘Good, because we need to go to Christmas dinner,’ she said, rising up on tiptoes and kissing the tip of his nose. ‘I believe that our ten minutes have passed and our families are waiting for us. And I should put my horrible father and my poor stepmother out of their misery.’
Devin put his hand in hers. ‘Lead the way, Julia.’
