The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch Read Free Book Online Page A

arms. Laughter leaped into his eyes while he slowly pulled her closer to his broad chest. His clean and earthy and so very masculine scent crept into her senses. For one brief moment of insanity, she enjoyed his nearness, his arms around her making her feel safe, protected, desirable.
    Where had she left her wits?
    “Thank you,” she whispered, dropping her eyes and shrugging off his touch.
    He dropped his hands to his sides. “Do you really fear me so? Or is it that this isn’t proper, either?”
    “Of course this isn’t proper. And I’m wise to mistrust a man whose conduct and intentions are questionable, at best. Unless I have my gun, of course.”
    His lazy laughter rang out, filling her with slow warmth.
    She barely controlled the impulse to smile. Instead, she raised her chin while trying to look appropriately irritated. “You laugh at me, sir?”
    “You are a sheer delight.” He enclosed one of her hands between both of his. Though terribly, terribly improper, the sweet possessiveness of his gesture sent giddy little thrills through her. “Do you know that in many countries, once a person has saved the life of another, that person must remain with his savior until the debt is repaid? If we were to honor that, then I must be with you, watching over you, every minute of every day.”
    She considered remaining in this man’s presence every moment of every day. Definitely not. Her good sense would never survive it.
    She disentangled her hand and said primly, “Fortunately, we do not have such an inconvenient custom in England.”
    He chuckled. “I think you don’t really mean that.”
    That sensual quality entered his voice, bringing to mind a stark remembrance of his kiss. His gaze lowered, focusing on her mouth. Her lips parted of their own volition as she remembered how soft and warm his lips were, the way she’d tingled at the touch. The way she tingled again now just remembering it.
    For one brief, horrifying moment, she had the insane hope that he would kiss her again. Longer. Over and over…
    She took herself in hand and drew a shaky breath. “Do you always accost women in this manner?”
    “Only those who capture my interest. You see, I’ve never met an angel.”
    An angel? That was probably the loveliest thing any man had ever said to her. Too bad she harbored secret desires that contradicted such a compliment. Too bad it came from a scoundrel who probably used it with every woman he hoped to seduce.
    “You, sir, are a dangerous flatterer.”
    He laughed with abandon. “You might as well tell me your given name. I’ll find out anyway.”
    She lifted her chin defiantly. Wh y was he so insistent to learn her Christian name? “Very well, in exchange for a satisfactory explanation of your straits that day on my property, I will tell you. But you do not have permission to address me by it.”
    “I fear I may not be able to resist.”
    “Exercise a measure of control.”
    “Hmmm. Like the control I exercised when I kissed you?”
    Her face flamed. “No!” she whispered tersely.
    “I assure you, I was tempted to do far more than I did.”
    Arrogant wretch! “Then truly you are no gentleman.”
    “You’re right. I only pretend to be. It’s a guise I wear when necessary. No doubt my mother would be horrified.” A brief shadow touched his face. Sadness? Regret? Grief?
    “My given name is Elise,” she heard herself say.
    “Elise,” he repeated in a tone approaching reverence.
    “But you do not have my permission to use it.”
    One corner of his mouth turned up, dispelling the earlier show of emotion. “Yes, ma’am.”
    A flare of light in the heavens caught her attention, and she watched a star streak across the darkened sky. “Look. A falling star.”
    “Make a wish,” he suggested.
    “I have no need of wishes. I have a home and a son and everything I need. I’ll make one for you. What do you wish?”
    “Freedom.”
    She blinked, taken aback by his unexpected answer.