The Earl's Outrageous Lover (7 page)

She pulled her hand out of his and shook her head.  “Why didn’t you like the black one?”  she asked, seriously wanting to understand this man.  “I thought you would like it and approve of it, although why I would even want your approval is beyond me!”

He stepped closer once again, his eyes hot and angry.  “Why are you trying to be someone you’re not?”  he demanded with a low, terrifying voice.  “You’re a beautiful woman.  You shouldn’t be hiding in a black dress.”

She was so stunned by his comment she wasn’t sure exactly how to respond.  She stood there looking up at him, her eyes confused.  “You think I’m beautiful?”  she asked softly.

He reached up, his fingers about to touch her but he hesitated.  “You know that you are,” he replied with a husky voice and let his hand drop back to his side.  He stood there looking down at her without moving for a long moment.  When she didn’t push him away, his head lowered slightly.  Then another fraction of an inch and Jessica’s breath froze.  She should pull away, she should run and hide.  But she did neither.  She just stood there, her mouth open slightly in anticipation of whatever he might do.  And she was very much hoping he would kiss her, that she could find out what it would be like to be kissed by Edward.

When his lips finally touched hers, she gasped and pulled back slightly.  He watched her, saw her eyes widen, then drop to his mouth.  That mouth was more temptation than a man should ever have to endure, he thought.  He watched in fascination as her tongue slipped out and touched her lips, moistening the enticing bottom lip and he felt like a man drowning.  He couldn’t pull back, but bent lower once again and kissed her with all the passion that had been building up since she’d bounced through the police station with those cowboy boots on.

She was freshness and light in what had suddenly become a dreary life.  It hadn’t been dreary until she’d burst into his office and gave him sunshine.  He hadn’t even realized that he’d been missing this kind of light.  And now, standing here, experiencing those soft lips moving against his, tasting her sweet nectar, he couldn’t stop himself from taking another taste.  And then another.

When he reached down and pulled her closer, he almost groaned at how perfectly she fit against him.  Her soft breasts pressed against his chest and her stomach cradled him perfectly as his body reacted almost violently to her incredible softness.  He wanted her and in the back of his mind, he knew that there was a bed right behind them.  He could lift her up and he could bury himself in her sweet body, to find out what she tasted like all over.

He pulled back and looked down at her.  Those lips were glistening with moisture and he just about went back for another taste.  But at that moment, sanity returned to him and he remembered where they were, who she was and what they needed to accomplish.

She was freshness and light.  He was darkness and schedules.  He couldn’t do anything with this woman because he would just drag her down and she would eventually lose that light that was so important to who she was.

No, it was better if he got her married.  Fast.  To someone who would suit her better.

“We have to go,” he said and cleared his throat.  He stepped back, watching hungrily as her eyes focused and she remembered their evening ahead.  “Julianna is probably wondering where we are.”

Jessica shook her head, trying to regain her composure.  Never in her life had she ever experienced a kiss like that.  And here he was, stepping back as if nothing had changed.  As if nothing had really happened.

He took her hand and led her down the stairs quickly.  Thankfully, she was wearing gold, strappy sandals which matched the dress.  They had been her one resistance to the old world decorum of the boring black.  Not that he would notice, she thought with confusion and rising anger.  Why had he kissed her, only to turn around and just pretend like the embrace hadn’t happened?

They drove through the night and Jessica tried desperately to figure out what to say, to start some sort of conversation with the strange man sitting next to her in the darkened limousine.  She wanted to ask him why he’d kissed her and….no, she didn’t want to know if it would happen again.  Where was the gentle man of the day before?  The man who had coached her through her first pistol lesson and winked at her when he caught her staring at him during the luncheon?  This man was a grouchy stranger who she couldn’t figure out, who had kissed her as if he wanted more, then turned around and acted so….she sighed, not really understanding what had happened.

He was staring out the window into the black night, looking pensive and absorbed in his thoughts.  So she gave up the struggle and just sat there, occasionally looking over at his strong profile but unable to figure out what he might be thinking.

“I’ll go get Julianna,” he said as the vehicle pulled up to another house.  “I’ll just be a moment.”  He didn’t wait for her response, but stepped out of the car even before Tim could move around to open the door for him.

Julianna opened the front door when he answered and Jessica had to sit there seething with jealousy as he spoke to the lovely blond woman for a long moment.  What were they saying?  She wanted to rush out and rip Julianna’s hand out of his, but she remained silently still in the vehicle.  She didn’t even scream when Edward bent to kiss Julianna on the cheek.  It was a chaste kiss, but Jessica was still furious that he’d dragged her up to her room when he first saw her and demanded that she change dresses, kissed her senseless while the lovely Julianna received a much more gentlemanly reception.

And to make matters worse, Julianna was wearing a perfectly elegant black dress with a rhinestone collar.  Jessica had to admit that the woman looked exceptionally lovely tonight and the black was an ideal foil for her blond beauty.  Edward seemed perfectly content to have Julianna in a black dress while he’d forced her to change clothes.  The nerve of that man!

“Good evening, Jessica.  You look absolutely stunning tonight,” Julianna said as Edward helped her into the back.

Jessica smiled, wishing she could hate the woman but she was just too nice.  “You look pretty fantastic in that gorgeous black dress.  Black seems to be the perfect color for a formal event, don’t you think?”  she said, turning to Edward with a pointed look.

Julianna laughed and caught the look Jessica shot towards him but didn’t understand what was happening.  “I’m guessing there’s a hidden meaning to that question, but yes.  Black does seem to be the easiest color for a formal night.”

Edward’s only response was a raised eyebrow in Jessica’s direction before he turned back to Julianna.  “How did the auction go?”  he asked, referring to the antiques she’d put up for auction as a way to generate interest.

“It went wonderfully, as you fully know,” she laughed.  “Thank you for suggesting the venue.  It generated a great deal more interest than usual so I’m again in your debt.  Is there anything you’re not impressively good at doing?”

They discussed the details of the auction and the aftermath of interest it generated during the rest of the drive to the ball.  Jessica knew almost nothing about antiques except what was contained in her father’s house.  She preferred viewing people versus objects, finding their emotions and reactions much more interesting.

The event was in full swing when Tim pulled up to the stairs leading to the museum where the ball was being held.  Jessica realized that she had no idea what the event was about and was ashamed.  She should be more involved in the world and she should at least be aware of what charity was helping her find a husband.  Jessica accepted that she was being a bit too self-centered lately.  She wasn’t the only one with problems and she needed to be more aware of what was happening in the world.

If only her father hadn’t given her this dratted deadline, and he hadn’t put the weight of so many workers’ employment on her shoulders!  Every time she thought of it, she wondered how her father could be so archaic.  Just because she had defied him, he’d trapped her in this horrible situation.

Tim was standing beside the door, offering a hand to Julianna and then to Jessica.  Edward stood on the first step with Julianna’s hand on his arm and he turned to wait for Jessica to step out of the car.

Jessica stopped before stepping onto the curb to talk to the driver.  “Thanks Tim.  How’s Jeremy doing today?  Will the doctors let him get the cast off yet?”

Tim bowed his head, maintaining his stiff demeanor, but Jessica saw the emotion in the older man’s eyes.  “He’s doing much better, Ms. Mallory.  His cast came off today and he’s chomping at the bit to climb that darn tree again.”

Jessica laughed and laid her hand on his forearm.  “Goodness, that must be a chore for Samantha to deal with.  I’m sure she’s going just a bit insane from Jeremy’s constant questions, isn’t she?”

Tim laughed softly and nodded.  “That she is!”

“Tell her I’ll stop by and give her a break tomorrow so she can go out and have some question-free time, okay?”

Tim’s eyes showed his appreciation for her offer but he shook his head.  “No need Ms.  Jessica.  But I appreciate your offer.”

“Nonsense.  Everyone needs some time alone.  I’ll be over about noon so she can have a lunch out.  Jeremy and I will have a great time together.  He’s a great kid.”

Edward looked from his driver to Jessica as she approached.  “Who is Samantha and why does a boy named Jeremy have a cast?”  he demanded as he extended his other arm for her.

Jessica slipped her hand onto his arm, allowing only her fingertips to touch the expensive material of his tuxedo.  “Samantha is his daughter and Jeremy is his ten year old grandson who was climbing a tree last month and fell, breaking his arm in two places.  He’s pretty rambunctious but he’s extremely bright.”

Edward looked down at the stunning woman on his arm and shook his head.  He hadn’t even been aware that Tim had children, much less grandchildren.  Nor was he aware that the man’s grandson had been in an accident.  “How do you know this?”  Tim had been his driver for as long as he could remember so it would make sense that the man had a family and a life outside of driving him around the city.

She looked up at him, her chocolate brown eyes hurt and still confused by that kiss followed by the way he had basically ignored her completely afterwards.  She didn’t understand the rules he played by, which was yet another reason to stay as far away from him as she could.  “I had breakfast with Martha yesterday and Jeremy came by, excited to show his grandmother his cast-less arm.  He’s very funny.”

Edward made a mental note to tell Alice to send over additional help for Tim’s daughter.  But before he could say anything else on the subject, even a thank you for giving him the information that one of his employee’s grandchildren was out of sorts, the lights and music of the ballroom broke through.  He went through the introductions to the host and hostesses and all the formal rituals of any event, slowly making their way into the main ballroom.

As soon as he entered the crowded room, he spotted the one man he’d been trying to avoid.  Before he could even lower his head to Jessica’s and warn her not to dance with James Cavanaugh, the man approached Julianna.

He bowed to Jessica and winked at her with a teasing look.  “Good evening, Jessica.  You look ravishing tonight.”  He turned to Edward and nodded politely, but then his eyes immediately skimmed to the blond on Edward’s other arm.

“Lady Holbrook, I was hoping you might be able to assist me with an important issue,” he said to Julianna before turning to Edward.  “Do you mind if I take one of these lovely ladies off of your hands for a moment?”  he asked.

Since he’d already taken possession of Julianna’s free hand and was pulling her into the crowd, there wasn’t much Edward could say.  Edward had to admit that he was mostly relieved that James wasn’t trying to take Jessica away from him.  He would have had something to say about that, he knew.  Julianna could take care of herself though.  He’d been with her when other men had been too forward and she had them all eating out of the palm of her hand, apologizing profusely for being impertinent or out of line.  James would be putty in her hands in moments if he did anything obnoxious.

Jessica on the other hand, she had those soft, brown eyes that showed her innocence.  She liked people too much, he told himself.  James would take advantage of her kind and generous nature.  Edward had to prevent that, especially after the previous dinner when the man had been hanging on her every word.

He refused to admit that the kiss less than a half hour ago had changed his perception of the woman.  He wasn’t being possessive, he told himself.  He hadn’t liked James the first time he’d met him so this was nothing new.  Besides, he’d already told Jessica that the man wasn’t right for her.

After that kiss, he wished that he was the right man though.

“Let’s move over here to the side,” Edward said gruffly, leading Jessica to a relatively clear area.  “I know there are several men here tonight who would be good candidates for you.”

Jessica sighed wearily.  Wasn’t there any way to avoid this idiocy?  How could he kiss her one moment, then push her towards other men the next?  But even as she stood there next to Edward, several people wandered closer.  Everyone wanted to talk with Edward it seemed and Jessica stood by his side, watching everyone interact with him.  She had to admire the way he handled everyone.  They all wanted tips on which stocks to buy or which companies to watch.  But Edward wouldn’t give them that information, carefully steering the conversation towards various other subjects.

Jessica’s boredom was already well established as she sipped champagne and looked around the room.  There were so many people, all dressed up and eager to pretend that the world could be righted by their simple presence and donation here tonight.  She wondered how many people even remembered what the charity was for.

“William,” Edward was saying to one man about Jessica’s age who looked like he was three inches taller and twenty pounds lighter than she was.  His tuxedo was well made, but there was really no way a tailor could make a man that thin look good in anything.  “Jessica is bored by all of this business talk.  Would you mind taking her out onto the dance floor?”  he suggested.