Page 41 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

Her hands trembled as she touched her lips. She had not imagined that he had returned her kiss with enthusiasm. Gently, yes. Hesitantly, yes. But there was no mistaking their mutual spark of attraction.

Clearly, she had let a handsome face get the better of good sense. Yet his male beauty wasn’t the source of his allure. Not for her. It was something else. Something she had the feeling he tried to hide from the world. Kindness? Was that what she saw in him?

Certainly, he was kind in his deeds. Look at the consideration he showed for the people who worked for him. And how caring he had been with the dog, despite his denials.

She liked him. A great deal more than she should. And he seemed to like her. But if she gave in to the passions roiling inside her, he would no doubt feel the same sort of distaste Alan had felt and it would ruin everything.

She would lose his friendship. She could not bear the idea of him turning away in disgust.

And since she could not trust herself around him, from now on she really would maintain a proper distance. Keep everything strictly business and avoid any further slips.

A knock on the door brought her to her feet. ‘Who is it?’

Oh, how stupid. They were the only two people in the house.

‘Dart.’

‘One moment.’ She scooped the scattered clothing and bundled them behind the sofa, then opened the door to see him with, one arm resting high on the doorframe, looking down at her, his dark hair tousled, his gaze intense. The man was too gorgeous for words. Breathtaking.

She clung to what little remained of her sanity. ‘Yes, My Lord?’ Her voice shook a little. She sounded breathless. ‘Please, come in.’ She stepped back to allow him to pass. ‘How is the dog? Well settled?’

He paced to the window and then turned with a gesture of defeat. ‘The stubborn animal refuses to remain in the stables. It is now happily ensconced beside the fire in my study.’

‘Oh.’ She tried not to chuckle at his chagrin.

‘I will enquire for its owner in the village tomorrow, but that was not what I wanted to discuss. I came to apologise.’

She stared at him, her heart sinking oddly. ‘For what?’

‘For allowing myself such ungentlemanly conduct—’

‘No, indeed! I turned a brotherly peck on the cheek into...’ heat rushed into her face ‘...into something more.’

‘Brotherly?’ He stared at her. ‘I can assure you, it wasn’t in the least bit brotherly.’

She swallowed. ‘I thought you might think I was far too forward for kissing you back as I did.’

A wicked smile lit his face and sent shivers down her spine. ‘I liked it. I wanted you to do it again.’

Her toes curled into the carpet. Oh, goodness, she hadn’t put on her slippers.

He stalked towards her and brushed her hair back from her face, peering at her expression, and what he saw seemed to take the worry from his gaze.

‘I think you and I have been dancing around each other for quite some time.’

He drew close, took her hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

‘I think we have. I should probably hand in my notice.’

‘Why?’

‘I am your employee. A servant. It is not fitting.’ Not the full truth. But it would do to keep him at bay. She hoped.

‘Sit,’ he said and drew her down on the sofa.

She perched on the edge. If her heart had been racing before, now it seemed ready to gallop out of her chest. He did not let go of her hand. And she did not pull it away.

She could not, did not want to give up the feel of his skin on hers. Her body hummed with pleasure at his touch.