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Another thing about young ladies that he had particularly forgotten in his seclusion? They did not appreciate coarse language.

Hudson ran a hand over his face in frustration.Bloody hell.

“I apologize for my harshness,” he sighed. “It was uncalled for.”

As proof of his sincerity, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shivering frame. For one so fiery, she was so physically delicate. The coat seemed to swallow her whole, but there was just something sorightabout her wearing his clothes that he smiled despite himself.

Even when she had come so dangerously close to uncovering the demons he had locked away in his closet.

“So, tell me about this list of yours,” he asked her instead. “I’m afraid I did not quite catch the rest of it.”

“Oh.” Color suffused her cheeks, inviting him to reach out and trail a finger over her warm skin. “That one.”

He smiled wider. “Yes, little cat.Thatone.”

Oh, he was going to love hearing what she had to say about this. Just as much as he would love to help her slowly tick off the boxes one by one.

Scarlett knew that she was not going to like the mischievous glint in his eyes—and she was right. Hudson rarely ever had such a light in his eyes, but she was now finding that when he did, it was almost always at her expense.

And shelovedit. Loved him lighting up because ofher.

Since when did I care what the ornery beast thinks?

“The list.” Suddenly, her mouth had become very dry. “Well, about the list…”

“Go on,” he prodded, his voice silky smooth as it glided along her nerves and did the most absurdly mind-altering things.

She licked her lips. “These are not exactly the sort of things a lady shares with a gentleman,” she said helplessly.

“I think we have gone past the mere lady-and-gentleman arrangement,” he pointed out. “Right about the time you came and accused me of kissing you.”

“Well, it is not exactly a baseless accusation now, is it?” she muttered, wrinkling her nose.

“Not anymore,” he agreed.

He really should stop speaking. His voice, deep and seductive, was doing truly dangerous things to her sanity.

“But back to the original topic at hand, little cat,” he said smoothly. “Tell me more about your list.”

Deep. Compelling. Utterly devastating.

Scarlett groaned inwardly. His voiceshouldbe outlawed.

“Well, about that…” she sighed. She supposed she could tell him one little truth. “You actually ticked off an additional item for me earlier.”

She really,reallyshould not trust the decisions she made under the influence of Hudson Barrow. Scarlett buried her face in her hands.

And now, cue in my death by absolute mortification.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

So, she does want those same things!

Hudson looked at the young woman in his arms. She had not been lying in the hunting lodge, after all. He had had his doubts, but the flush that suffused her cheeks gave her away.

A slow smile spread across his face.

It was so rare to find a woman so honest about her physical desires—and oh so attractive.