Say Yes to the Duke by Kieran Kramer Read Free Book Online Page B

can’t believe that you do.” He chuckled. “You’re not a pushover, as I well know.
     You’ve got yourself a temper, my lady.”
    She raised her chin. “I only behave that way when I’m required to, Mr. Callahan. When
     I’m put into a corner and need to fight back. And so far, you’re the first man who’s
     ever brought that out in me.”
    “Oh.” He gave her a lazy grin. “You should behave that way more often.” There was
     smoke in his voice.
    Her heart beat faster. “You’re being silly.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Please change the subject.” Her voice came out as a mere squeak. She could have simply
     turned and left him, but—
    She couldn’t.
    She craved every second she could get in his company.
    It was foolish.
    But she couldn’t help herself. He was like a drug.
    “All right.” He stood up straight and folded those massive arms over his chest. “What
     do you think of the duke so far?”
    She blinked several times, overwhelmed by the leashed power she sensed in those muscles
     of his. She didn’t think Gregory could take him down, nor Daddy. And certainly not
     Peter or Robert.
    “His Grace,” she said in a thin voice, “is perfectly courteous and pleasant—if a bit
     demanding and unconventional.”
    She didn’t care about His Grace. Especially when she looked into this man’s sapphire
     blue eyes. She wanted to know how he could have possibly kissed a hundred women. Of
     course, she couldn’t ask. And she prayed he couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
    “I know what you’re thinking,” he said with a gleam in his eye.
    “You couldn’t possibly,” she said immediately, her pulse pounding in her throat.
    “Oh, yes, I do.” He grinned. “You want to know … how is it that this man has kissed
     so many women? He’s a groom, for goodness’ sake. He lives in the stables. Where in
     heaven’s name are all the women?”
    Mortification made her hot. “You’re—you’re wrong.”
    “Am I?” he said easily, as if he didn’t mind in the least her curiosity. “But we were
     discussing the duke.… What did he do to merit your observation that he’s demanding
     and unconventional?”
    She couldn’t understand how Mr. Callahan was nothing more than a groom—not that the
     position wasn’t respectable, but he radiated such intelligence and confidence, surely
     he could have become a scholarship student and become a country doctor, or, at the
     least, a tenant farmer who managed his own lands.
    She dragged her wandering thoughts, like rebellious runaway children, back to the
     question at hand. “His Grace wanted to show me his conservatory and the family portraits
     without anyone to chaperone us.”
    “I’m not surprised.” Mr. Callahan lifted and dropped his sculpted shoulders. “I told
     you—beware of him.”
    “It was enthusiasm for his treasures that caused him to forget the proprieties,” she
     said. “Nothing nefarious. Besides, he himself is arranging a chaperone for me.”
    “Which he hasn’t provided the other ladies, who should have them, too.”
    Her cheeks flushed. “Yes, well, I haven’t deduced exactly why they’re here yet.”
    “Remain naïve,” the groom warned her, “but it will be at your peril.” He looked over
     her head. “Look. In all the commotion, we’ve missed something.” He turned her delicate
     shoulders—which stiffened immediately at his touch—so that she faced Esmeralda. “More
     puppies.”
    “Two more!” Janice cried softly. “But … one of them is … brown?” She turned to the
     groom and lofted a quizzical brow.
    “It must look like its father.”
    She gave a bright laugh. “How wonderful!”
    They watched in silence as another one was born, this one white with a large black
     spot on his side. Esmeralda went to work on him, nipping, cleaning, pushing him with
     her nose. But he didn’t respond the way the others did. There was no wriggling. No
     blind clawing about, seeking warmth and