Page 8 of Noble Scoundrel

“Not a fuckin’ chance.”

His voice was husky and low and her belly twisted tightly in response.

She inhaled a heavy breath, urging her brain to action—to think!

Such a difficult task with his heat and hardness surrounding her, his intense gaze staring into hers, and his mouth—an intriguing twist of humor with curving arcs and firm lines...

But then something he’d said infiltrated the haze of her thoughts. It hadn’t made sense before but...if she adjusted the context...

A fascinating suspicion dawned.

In fact, there was a lot that suddenly made sense. The enigma he presented suddenly offered a glimmer of clarity.

She took another deep breath, causing his gaze to flicker over the rise and fall of her breasts. “You have no reason to keep me,” she stated calmly, firmly. “You will release my brother.”

He tensed his arms around her. The wall of his chest flexed and shifted against her breasts. A strand of his flaxen hair slid from his queue to brush her cheek. “And why would I do that after what you just pulled?” he asked in a sardonic tone.

She could be wrong, but she had nothing to lose by being bold.

“Because you orchestrated this little meeting, didn’t you? You were prepared for Mr. Boothe as soon as you entered this room, though I suspect my presence was a bit of a surprise.” His fingers tightened on her wrists and she continued with confidence. “You came here to ensure I wasn’t a threat to my brother. For some reason you want him to be safe. If that’s true, we’re on the same side.” After a brief hesitation, she added quietly, “Frederick needs me.”

There was a long moment as they stared intently at each other. Their gazes both assessing and probing, weighing risks and calculating outcomes.

After a bit he narrowed his eyes, shielding the mesmerizing light from within. “You’ve surprised me, Lady Katherine,” he muttered thickly. The roughness of his voice made her name sound dangerous and sultry. She tensed her thighs and steeled the muscles of her back to combat the sudden melty feeling inside her. “Not many people do.”

“Then you’ll bring Frederick to me?” Her breathlessness wasn’t completely caused by the rush of hope that filled her at the possibility of finally being reunited with her brother.

“No,” he replied. Stepping back, he released her hands, leaving the pistols in her grip. “But I’ll take you to him.”

After turning away from her, he leapt back over his desk and started for the door.

Terrified that he might be toying with her and utterly uncertain if she could trust anything he said, she stood stiffly in place. “Right now?”

Casting a glance over his shoulder, he noted casually, “Unless you’d prefer to wait for a formal invitation to be sent round to Mayfair.”

She rushed around the desk, safely tucking the pistols into the deep pockets of her cloak. She reached Hale just as he used his boot to shove the unconscious Mr. Boothe’s leg out of the way to open the door. Katherine looked down at the poor man who did no more than groan softly in response. “Are you going to just leave him there?”

Hale tossed a dismissive glance at the former Runner. “He’ll be fine.”

“On the floor?”

A sardonic expression flashed across hard features. “He forced his way onto my property to attack me without provocation.”

“He was working on my behalf.”

His eyes narrowed. “I’m aware.”

“He was simply trying to protect me.”

“Then he shouldn’t have brought you to me.”

Something in his words, or maybe it was how he’d said them—all coarse and threatening—struck an odd and sensitive chord inside her. Any remaining argument faded from her lips as the deep, dark stirring he’d inspired inside her returned in full force.

When she didn’t reply and didn’t move, he glanced out the door and down the steps, then back to her.

Then with a half sigh, half growl, he rolled his shoulders and crouched down to take ahold of Mr. Boothe. The unconscious man was hefted onto one broad shoulder as Hale stood to full height. His intense gaze flashed with ire, but he carried the man across the room and dropped him unceremoniously onto the worn sofa.

Hale didn’t acknowledge Katherine again as he headed back out the door, scooped up his coat, and continued down the stairs.

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