Page 55 of Dukes for Dessert

The window was closed against the night’s chill, its panes reflecting the chandeliers and the broad-shouldered man in black frock coat and Scottish kilt. He looked straight at Sophie.

Sophie’s heart pounded as she drank in his hard body, the way the kilt hugged his hips. She’d never seen David in Scottish dress before, and she decided it much suited him.

A couple making their way to the dance floor nearly ran into her, and Sophie skittered aside with an apology. She realized she could no longer be a stone, and forced her satin-slippered feet toward the window. The distance was only a dozen yards in truth, but it felt like miles.

David watched her come, making no attempt to go to her. She had no idea how he would receive her—was he angry at her for not sending word to him? Or indifferent about their time apart?

“Good evening,” she managed when she halted an arm’s length from him. So she might say to any acquaintance.

“Good evening.” David ran his blue-gray gaze up and down her, making her blood burn. “Lovely gown.”

“Isabella chose it. You look …” Sophie faltered, biting off her true words. Delectable, beguiling, desirable.

David spread his arms, a hint of his wicked smile returning. “Hart insists on a show of force from his Scottish cousins. Great-great aunt Donnag might have married a Duke of Kilmorgan, but her brother, my direct ancestor, married an Englishwoman. Hart barely forgives me for that, but if I bring out the kilt once in a while, he lets me be.”

Sophie hid a nervous smile. “He is fond of you.”

David glanced at the large Mackenzie who was holding his audience in thrall. “Perhaps. I’ve been loyal to him, if nothing else.”

“They are all very fond of you.” Sophie’s speech was stilted, her words polite, as though she spoke to a man she barely knew. “I’ve been living in this house for a while now, and your name comes up often.”

David’s eyes flickered. “That is alarming.”

“Not at all. The ladies speak of you highly. The gentlemen too.”

“Even more alarming. I wonder what they want me to do for them?”

Sophie’s amusement bubbled up, dissolving some of the tension inside her. “Must you always mock yourself?”

“Mocking myself makes others’ mockery easier to bear.”

She softened. “You are a fine man, David Fleming.”

His restlessness quieted as he studied her face. The room behind Sophie seemed to fade, the music and chatter muted.

“My life will be worth living if you truly believe that,” he said. “Damnation, Sophie, I wanted to come to you, to see you, to make certain you were well …”

“Eleanor told me she kept you away.” Sophie slid closer to him, unable to stop herself. “I wanted to see you too. To thank you …”

“No.” David held up his hands, his voice taking on a savage note. “I do not want your thanks or gratitude. It’s not what I want from you.” He closed his eyes briefly then gave himself a shake. “I am supposed to be thanking you for deflecting Griffin. How the devil you managed it, I don’t know, but I liked learning that you are as devious as I am.”

Sophie shrugged, the gauze of her sleeves rubbing her shoulders. “I overheard an interesting bit of conversation that made me ask questions, is all. I was glad to find the one thing Mr. Griffin wanted more in life than taking vengeance on you.”

“Exactly.” David’s snake-like grin returned. “How do you suppose I work the magic I do? If I could take you under my wing and teach you—ah, what havoc we could wreak!”

Sophie couldn’t stop her laugh. “We’d be feared the length and breadth of England.”

“Scotland too. It would be delightful.” David’s amusement faded. “Except it’s hell to pretend you only a friend when you are standing so close to me, in that dress.”

“Where should I stand? And in what frock?” She left off teasing. “I am proud to call you friend, David.”

“You were not when you first saw me, a wreck of a man. I thank you for dragging me from that, if nothing else.”

Her hands were in his before she realized she’d reached for them.

“I was as much of a wreck,” she said. “Hiding from the world.”

“Hiding with you was the best time of my life,” David said fervently. “Far, far better than being in the world without you.”