To Tempt an Irish Rogue by Kaitlin O'Riley Read Free Book Online

raising children. She had wanted her sister to continue to ask him questions because she was more than a little curious about the man who just kissed her and was now disappointed that the topic had changed to their children.
    But she knew exactly why his name was familiar to her sister.
    Paulette recalled quite well where Colette had heard Mr. Reeves’s name mentioned before and wondered if her sister would remember. It was during supper at Devon House the night before last. After Paulette told them about their visit to the bookshop, Lucien recalled reading about him in the paper and recounted for them how Mr. Reeves was under suspicion for the death of his wife.
    A different kind of shiver raced down her spine.
    No wonder he deflected the conversation from himself. She continued to stare at him, wondering if it were possible that the man was guilty of murdering his wife. Even though he looked a bit roguish, Paulette could not reconcile the man who cared for his daughter so sweetly with a man who would commit murder. In her mind it didn’t make sense.
    But could she reconcile herself to the thought that she may very well have just kissed a murderer? Her heart pounded wildly as she stared at the handsome gentleman in front of her.
    “Paulette?”
    Startled by the sound of her name, Paulette blinked and looked at her sister. “Yes?”
    Colette eyed her with some concern. “Paulette, Lord Cashelmore asked you a question.”
    Paulette looked back at Declan Reeves, feeling like a simpleton. What had he asked her? “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I was woolgathering, apparently, and I confess that I did not hear what you just said.”
    “I merely asked if you would help me select another book for Mara now?”
    “Oh, yes, of course,” she responded, thankful to have something familiar to do. This she could handle. “We shall go to the children’s section.”
    She felt Colette’s eyes on her as she and the Irish gentleman walked away from the counter and was infinitely grateful that her sister was not capable of mind reading.

Chapter 5
    Wondering
    As he followed Miss Hamilton to the children’s section of the bookshop, Declan knew she was more than a little flustered and he was the cause of her discomfort. The poor girl’s cheeks were still pink and she had barely been able to follow the conversation he had just had with her sister.
    And Lady Stancliff had apparently heard the rumors about what happened to his wife and his involvement in the sordid affair, but had been too polite to say anything in front of him. For that he was thankful. For some reason, he desperately did not want Miss Hamilton to know about the ugly rumors. He had come to London to escape the gossips and accusations and having to explain himself.
    He had no wish to have to explain his past to someone as completely enchanting as Miss Hamilton.
    Miss Hamilton. Paulette. Her name was Paulette. He liked thinking of her as Paulette. The name suited her.
    Had he truly been so brazen as to kiss her passionately behind a bookshelf? What had possessed him to do such a thing with a woman he didn’t even know? It had been the strangest and yet most romantic encounter he had ever had. As soon as Paulette put her hands on his chest, as soon as she touched him, he felt connected to her somehow. Being so close to her did something to him. A part of him that was frozen inside seemed to melt. He suddenly wanted to bare his soul to her and it terrified him. To keep himself from confiding in her, he kissed her instead. And then kissing her was all he could think about. Ah, what a grand kiss it had been though! She was sweet and eager. And had tasted faintly of shortbread, funnily enough.
    But more importantly she had kissed him back. God, just recalling it made him want to kiss her again.
    Yet guilt plucked at him, for he should not have taken such liberties with her.
    When they reached the children’s section with its colorful child-sized furniture, which he