The Earl's Outrageous Lover (11 page)

He grasped at the first thing he could think of to discourage her from going to a professional agency.  “Because those social sites are filled with men who are just looking for a woman of your wealth who is ready to take it all away.  No, you need me to help you sift through the bad seeds and find the genuine article.”

For the next thirty minutes, she and Edward argued about the merits of an agency versus using his help, the men he knew and why they would or would not be appropriate for her to talk with.  As much as she hated arguing, there was something so stimulating about arguing with Edward.

She actually laughed at some of his points, even when he didn’t see the humor.  “You’re very serious most of the time, aren’t you?”  she asked softly when there was a pause in their conversation.  “Why is that?”

Edward shook his head.  “Life isn’t a round of parties,” he replied.

“I know that.”  She looked at him carefully.  “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you relax.  What do you do for fun?”

Edward’s mind was stumped.  “I like my work.  I find it interesting.”

She smiled at him.  “I imagine that your work is very stimulating, but what do you do to just relax and have fun?  What makes you stop thinking, or puts your whole body at rest?”

The image of her, naked and looking up at him with those chocolate eyes on fire for him popped into his mind.  Yes, that would definitely shut his brain off to his next business meeting, he thought.  “I enjoy working out.  I attend several social functions each week.  There are many things that interest me.”

She had to allow that the man was driven.  “When was the last time you took a vacation?”  she asked, testing a theory.

He raised one eyebrow.  “I take a vacation twice a year.”

She looked at him with a challenge.  “How about a vacation where you don’t have a cell phone or computer nearby?  A place where there’s no technology connecting you to your office and your scarily efficient assistant isn’t updating you with information three or four times a day… any period in your adult life when that has happened?”

Edward shook his head.  “I am always available to my staff.”

“Hmmm….”  She hummed.  “I think it would be interesting to tie you up so you couldn’t be in control.”

That got his attention!  He looked across the table at her with a lascivious grin.  “I think the opposite might get my mind off of work more effectively,” he replied.

Jessica looked up from her salad, her eyes wide and innocent as she tried to understand his reply.  When she saw his look, she blushed painfully, finally understanding what she’d just said.  “Oh….um…well, no…that wasn’t really what I was saying…” she stammered out, but when he only chuckled at her distress she sighed and smiled back at him.  “You know what I meant!”

He laughed again and shook his head.  “My comment stands.”

Jessica saw the heat in his eyes and gasped slightly, her water glass halted midway to her mouth but she was frozen by the look.  She’d never seen Edward so forward and her heartbeat increased, her mind went dead and the noises of the restaurant disappeared.  It was only herself and Edward and that comment hanging in the air between us.

He broke the moment by shaking his head slightly and looking away.  He picked up his glass of wine and took a sip as he surveyed the other patrons nearest them.  “But since that’s not on the agenda, how about if we get back to the issue at hand?  Finding you an appropriate husband in a painfully short period of time.”

Jessica sighed.  “Maybe I should just take James up on his offer.  He’s a very nice gentleman and he would be a good husband.”

Edward’s glass snapped back onto the table.  “Absolutely not.  I’ll marry you before I’ll let that man into your life like that.”

Jessica stared at him, her eyes wide with the hope his words struck within her.  She didn’t say anything though.  And Edward continued talking about the various men he had in mind to introduce her to, but she didn’t hear them.  Her mind was racing, her body reacting to the idea of Edward as her husband.

As they were leaving the restaurant, Jessica looked up into his eyes, amusement apparent as she observed his frustration.  “Let’s face it Edward.  We really don’t make a very good pair,” she teased.

Edward looked down at her, furious that she was pulling away from him like this.  He wanted her close and she was just pushing him away.  “Why would you say something like that?”

She laughed and leaned against his car.  “Because we don’t agree on a single subject.  Besides, you’re old world stuffy and I’m annoyingly new age.  You don’t even like the way I dress most of the time.”

He leaned towards her, one eyebrow raised at her comment.  “Who says I don’t like what you wear?”

She chuckled and shook her head.  “Those red boots on that first meeting?  I love those boots and you just kept looking down at them and scowling.”

He put a hand to the hood of his car and leaned closer.  “I never said I didn’t like the red boots.”

“And you hated that black dress.”

He’d give her that much at least.  “I hated the black potato sack you wore because it didn’t fit your style.  I’ve already told you this.”

“Same thing.”  This time her response came out a bit too breathily for her taste.  But he was so close, so strong and tall and…just so
male
!

“Not the same thing at all,” he countered.

Jessica realized that she was looking at his mouth and looked up into his eyes, her heart racing as he slowly closed the distance between the two of them.  “What are you doing?”  she whispered.

“I think I’m trying to convince you that I don’t dislike your wardrobe choices.”

“Double negatives are too hard to decipher, Edward.  What are you trying to say?”

“I’m going to kiss you.  Is that hard to decipher?”

She inhaled sharply and looked up at him, her body straightening slightly in anticipation.  “I understand the words, possibly not the motive though.”

“My motives are pretty clear.  You think I don’t like you.  I’m going to kiss you to prove that I do.  As if last night wasn’t enough proof.”

“Wanting to kiss me and liking me are two different issues.”

He conceded her point with a slight tilt to his head.  “Fair assertion.  But I’m going to kiss you anyway.”

“Why?”

“Because I remember what it feels like and I want to do it again.  If memory serves, I think I really liked kissing you but I need more evidence in order to jog my memory,” he replied.

Jessica would have said something, but he covered her mouth with his, his hands moving to her waist and pulling her against him.  She pressed her hands against his chest, feeling his heart beat fast under her fingertips.

Chapter 6

Edward looked down at Jessica, her legs curled around his and her breathing soft and even as she slept.  He felt like a complete cad for what he’d done, but couldn’t regret it.  She was so responsive and he loved the way she felt in his arms.  The kiss outside the restaurant had led to another.  Then another.  Next thing he knew, he was stuffing her back into his car and driving her home.  The whole way, he’d anticipated hearing her tell him that he should stop and let her out, but she hadn’t.  And now she was his.  No more fooling around, this woman was going to marry him.  He hadn’t figured out how but he’d get there.

He loved the way she cried out his name and eagerly trusted him, turning to him over and over again.  Even in her sleep, she had one hand wrapped around his arm and her other hand was laying on his stomach.  He ignored the growing desire that hand created within him, wanting to just savor how perfectly she felt against him.

He never should have left her bed early this morning.  He’d been trying to give her space after her first night of sexual activity, but he understood now that it had been a mistake.  He should have stayed in her bed and told her what was going to happen as soon as she’d woken up, saved both of them the lunch where they’d danced around the giant gorilla in the room.

The doorbell rang downstairs and he looked at the clock on his bedside table.  It was still relatively early, he realized, but that’s what happens when one stayed in bed for the afternoon.  With a sigh, he extracted himself from her long, tangled limbs and jumped into the shower.  He had no idea who would arrive on his doorstep unannounced, but he supposed he needed to find out.  His housekeeper would let him know who it was in a few moments, but he didn’t want to be smelling like he’d just had sex when he greeted whoever had been rude enough to interrupt his perfect afternoon.

Ten minutes later, he was showered and pulling a soft, cotton shirt over his head.  His jeans were well worn and casual.  He should probably put on some slacks, but when a person showed up unannounced, they had to expect a lower standard of dress.

“It’s Lady Holbrook,” his housekeeper announced as soon as he stepped out of his room.

Edward knew that he should have called Julianna and guilt made him feel horrible.  There was no formal relationship between the two of them, but there was an understanding.  He’d even brought up the idea of marriage with her on a previous occasion and they’d both tentatively agreed that they would eventually get married.  He just hadn’t been ready for that step.

Actually, he’d be married probably by this weekend, which was ironic since he now had to break off his relationship with the woman he hadn’t wanted to be tied down to just yet.  He’d have to break it off with his mistress as well, he thought as he stepped into the formal living room where his housekeeper had told him Julianna was waiting for him.

As soon as he stepped into the room he realized that Julianna was crying.  Had she found out what had happened this afternoon?  That seemed impossible, since even he hadn’t really absorbed the chain of events, but there was no doubting the tear stained cheeks she turned in his direction as soon as she heard the door open.

“Julianna, are you okay?”  he asked, moving over to her quickly.  He took her hands and pulled her down onto the sofa with him.  Was she more invested in their relationship than he’d thought?  He knew they were fond of each other, but he’d suspected that she hadn’t really been in love with him.  Their relationship had been more convenient and brought about by common interests and shared social networks.

Julianna looked up at him with her pretty blue eyes and took a deep breath.  “Edward, I’ve done something terrible,” she said with a deep sigh.  “I’m begging you to forgive me and I hope we can move past this….”  She dropped her head into her hands and sobbed delicately.  “I know that we had a sort of….agreement…of sorts.  That we were both thinking that eventually we would marry.  Not soon, I know, but at some distant point in the future when we were both ready.”

“Yes…well,” he started to say, thinking of Jessica still sleeping upstairs in his bed.

“No, please don’t say anything.  I’ve messed everything up.”

Edward’s eyes widened at that declaration.  Surely she couldn’t have messed things up as much as he had.  “Julianna, please, there’s nothing that you could have done….”

“I slept with James,” she whispered, then covered her mouth as if she’d said something truly horrifying.

Edward stared at the woman he’d always assumed was a virgin.  A virgin he hadn’t really been looking forward to initiating, he actually realized right at this moment.  “James Cavanaugh?”  he asked, still processing the news.  Jessica had been a virgin though, and that thought filled him with a great deal of pride.

Julianna nodded her head silently.

“And….”

She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and looked away.  “Twice,” she admitted, and a fresh wave of tears took over and her shoulders shook with the emotion she was trying to control, and failing.

“I’m so sorry, Edward.  I’ve ruined our relationship and it’s all my fault.”

Edward almost laughed, but knew that she was truly upset.  “Julianna, I’m happy for you and James.  He’s a great guy and I’d even like to do business with him.  If he’s the man you want to be with, then I think you should go after him.”  Actually, Edward was suddenly interested in doing business with the man since he now realized that James was interested in Julianna instead of Jessica.

Julianna laughed humorlessly.  “I don’t want James.  He’s…..just….”

“Annoying?”  he suggested, thinking of Jessica and her arguments over the agency plan.  Okay, so she was also sweet and refreshing, she made him happy just by arguing with him, he thought, thinking about their lunch this afternoon.

“Yes.”  She shook her head, her hand reaching out to him.  “And yet….”

“There’s something about him that you just can’t ignore?”  he offered.

She nodded.  “I can’t marry you, knowing what I’ve done.”

Edward took her hands and covered them with his larger ones.  “Julianna, you haven’t done anything wrong.  And I think it’s probably for the best.”  He watched her for a moment then said, “Are you in love with him?”

She reared back, shaking her head to vehemently deny that.  “Absolutely not!  The man might make me….feel things, but I definitely am not in love with him.  Nor would I allow myself to be so silly as to fall in love with a man who is completely unpredictable, thrives on being as inappropriate as possible and can’t have a serious conversation to save his soul.”

Edward laughed, since he thought of Jessica in exactly that manner.  He wasn’t sure what he felt for Jessica right now.  He just knew that he wasn’t going to let her out of his life.  And he’d be dammed if he’d let her marry some other man.  The crazy woman was his and he damn well protected what was his!  “Well, when you finally admit it, I hope you and James will be very happy together.”

Julianna waved that away.  “James and I won’t work,” she reiterated.  “But I am very sorry that you and I won’t either.”

He smiled and patted her hand.  “Everything works out exactly as it’s supposed to, I think.”

She smiled back at him, relieved that he was taking this so well.  She thought about it for a moment, then looked at him more closely.  “You’re in love with Jessica, aren’t you?”  she guessed.

Edward grimaced, but nodded his head.  “Crazy in love,” he admitted.

Julianna sighed, more relieved than she could have thought possible.  “I should be furious with you, I think,” she said as she broke into a laugh.  “Isn’t this about the time that I start raving about how horrible you are for letting me go on and on about sleeping with James when you’re….”  she stopped, blushing prettily as she hovered over the issue at hand.  “Well, you know….”

“Yes,” he laughed right along with her.  “And yes, this is the time when we both should be screaming at each other for the other’s infidelities.”

Julianna giggled slightly.  “Well, I guess things did work out pretty well after all, eh?”

Edward sighed.  “We’re still in a bit of a mess though.  I’ve got to get her to marry me.”

Julianna patted his hand this time.  “I don’t think you’ll have to do much convincing.”

“She’ll hate me in the morning.”

“Just be your normal, charming self and she’ll be the happiest woman on earth.”

He warmed to her reassurance, but he wasn’t exactly sure how to go about making all of this happen.  Jessica wasn’t the kind of woman he was used to.  He thought about just ordering her to pick out a dress and meet him at the church, but he suspected that Jessica would have some issues with that mandate.  She didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who would take orders very well.

Julianna stood up and took a deep, cleansing breath.  “Well, this was much easier than I was expecting.”

Edward stood up with her, his thumb catching a tear that escaped and was traveling slowly down her delicate cheek.  “Are you going back to James?”  he asked.

Julianna shook her head.  “He’s definitely not the man for me.  I don’t want to be bogged down in his craziness.  I need a bit more control over my world.”

Edward considered giving her some advice, but since he had a beautiful, naked woman upstairs in his bedroom and he had no idea how to make that permanent, he didn’t feel up to offering her anything.  “I’m here for you.  Always.”  They were in the foyer now, standing underneath the dimmed lights and he gave her a hug.  “You’ll be fine.  And if not, I’ll punch his lights out for you.  Okay?”

She laughed and laid her head against his chest.  “See?  There’s that incredible charm,” she teased.

Edward closed the door behind her, then wondered how he was going to get Jessica to the altar.

He walked back up the stairs, ready to crawl right back into bed with his sleeping beauty.  When he reached his room though, the woman in question was nowhere to be found.

“Jessica?”  he called out, checking the bathroom.  Even her clothes were gone.  He raced down the stairs, calling out her name and feeling as if something was wrapping around his chest and tightening.  Something told him to find Jessica.  Fast!  Calling out her name, he raced through the rooms, checking each to see if perhaps she’d just decided to curl up somewhere and read or have a cup of coffee.  Tea, actually.  He knew that Jessica didn’t drink coffee, preferring tea.  Why he was thinking about her beverage preferences at a time like this, he had no idea.

“Jessica!”  he called out and rushed into the kitchen, an area he’d rarely seen.  But she wasn’t here either.  His housekeeper stepped out of her bedroom which was off the side of the kitchen, curlers in her hair, her right hand holding the neckline of a quilted robe closed and fluffy slippers peeking out from the bottom.  “Have you seen Jessica?”  he asked, unaware that he was scowling worse than his father ever had.

The woman stepped back involuntarily and nodded.  “She went out the back door about fifteen minutes ago, my lord.  And she didn’t look very happy.”

Edward cursed and hurried back through the rooms.  He grabbed a set of keys from the bureau in the foyer and ran down the stone steps out to the garage.  He actually had no idea which bay the sedan was parked inside so he entered through the side door.  There was a Bentley, a BMW and a Mercedes besides the limousine Tim usually drove him around in.  He swung around to the BMW, not wanting the pretentiousness of the other two cars right now.  They served a purpose, but the Bentley had been his grandfather’s and was still in perfect condition.  He needed speed right now, and agility.  Glancing at his watch, he noted that it was still relatively early but he still felt the need to hurry.

He wanted this marriage issue settled and Jessica running away after their afternoon in bed was not helping the situation.

He reached into his pocket and dialed her number.  Of course she didn’t pick up, but he suspected that she’d gone straight to her house.  He went there himself, seething with fury, both at her as well at himself.  He couldn’t believe she’d just walked out after the afternoon they’d shared.  And he couldn’t believe that he hadn’t put his ring on her finger the moment he had her in his bed.

He made one stop though.  He had to make this official because Jessica wasn’t the kind of woman who would accept a tentative commitment.  He needed a firm promise and a plan of action.

The jeweler had exactly what he was looking for.  He had the ring wrapped up and in his pocket in less than fifteen minutes and he was back on the road.  He’d left Tim back at the house, preferring to speed through the London traffic.  This was too important to meander in the back of a limousine so he was driving himself in his black BMW.

At her house, he banged on the door, instinctively knowing that Jessica was inside.  Something also told him that she was hurt and trying to avoid him.

When Beth opened the door, he pushed his way inside, ignoring the housekeeper’s astonished and offended look.  “Where’s Jessica?”  he demanded.

Beth stepped back, her hand coming to cover her throat in outrage.  “Excuse me, but Ms. Mallory isn’t available.”

Edward wasn’t having any of that from Jessica’s housekeeper.  “Which means she’s here somewhere.  Go get her,” he said and stared at the woman with his hands on his hips until she started moving.

Jessica had heard the whole interchange and, before Beth could move out of the foyer, she stepped out from the living room where she’d been curled up with a cup of tea.  “I’m right here,” she said, wishing she could hide her red-rimmed eyes from this man.

“Why did you leave?”  he asked, stepping closer but most of his anger dissipating at the sight of her sad eyes.  Those chocolate eyes should never be sad, he thought.  She was just too….alive…for sadness.  He reached down and touched her gently, caressing that soft skin and wondering how he could make it better.

Jessica didn’t want to admit that she’d seen green when he was in his living room talking with Julianna.  The other woman had invaded her dreams and now she was working on building up her defenses once again.  “Your company didn’t need me to stick around.”