Page 7

He stepped back and smirked at her. Gone was the charming man she observed in the fountain or the man who spoke with her son. Now, he was replaced with a hardened person that she didn’t like—no different from Lady Wesley herself.

“You’re an arrogant ass!” she hissed.

His eyes widened at her use of profanity. She stared at him haughtily, not embarrassed. He leaned against the other wall, his eyes raking over her. “I can tell you desire me by how flushed your cheeks are and how you tremble when I lean into you.”

“Unlike you, Mr. Devons, I require more than physical attraction to bed someone. I came here to apologize for what Lady Wesley said, but now I see that the two of you deserve each other. I suddenly don’t feel the need to explain anything to you.”

She pushed past him, hating him but also hating herself because as much as she wanted to deny it, her body had reacted to him.

*

Sebastian stormed into the Den. He climbed the stairs leading to the walkway overlooking the club’s main hall two at a time.

His eyes swept over the room. It was late afternoon, but some gentlemen were already starting to arrive, ready to play at the card tables.

He hated that Lilah had gotten a rise out of him.

To be honest, it wasn’t she who affected him.

Lady Hensley had triggered his fury. Though he didn’t know her well, not once had he assumed she was friends with Lilah or viewed people the same way his ex-lover did.

He didn’t care that she played the proper society lady.

Plenty of women did. That was one of the primary reasons the Den’s decadent balls required masks.

What Sebastian couldn’t tolerate were lords and ladies who believed they were better than others because of their untainted lineages.

Beliefs held by Lilah and, from what he gleaned, Lady Hensley as well.

He shouldn’t give a damn about what the mousy woman thought of him.

Then why was he thinking of her? He knew why.

He desired her. Sebastian scowled, denying it to himself.

She wasn’t his type. A flash of the lady in her wrap and her disheveled hair falling around her shoulders appeared in his mind.

He pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter. He had no plans to see her again.

Sebastian turned to one of the four doors along the walkway and made his way to his office.

He threw himself into his chair and grabbed the stack of messages left for him.

Most were requests asking for an extension on credit.

Even Lord Wesley was on credit at the Den.

Yet he had been good enough for Lilah. Her words from their last night together attempted to push to the front of his mind, but he wouldn’t allow it.

He had never felt bitter that he wasn’t a lord and wouldn’t now.

He stared at the familiar scrawl on one envelope and smirked.

What did Addie want? There was gossip she was up to something.

Sebastian still couldn’t believe her husband had taken her best friend Eleanor as his lover.

The ton was all agog over it. He had to admit it was rather shocking.

He liked both Addie and her husband Lord Hawley.

The man never struck him as someone who sought attention, so the fact he’d committed such a public transgression was rather appalling.

It shouldn’t be such a scandal. They’d been separated for a decade, but Addie loved to thumb her nose at society. In return, they gleefully shared any disparaging gossip they could about her. He opened the envelope and pulled out her message.

Devons,

I have an exciting venture I must speak with you about. I promise you won’t want to miss out. Please pay me a visit on Thursday afternoon to learn more. I can’t wait to share with you the adventure that awaits you.

Lady Hawley.

Sebastian shook his head as his lips quirked up.

He would call on her even if he wanted nothing to do with her venture.

They were too good of friends for him not to.

He leaned back in his chair as his mind went back to earlier events.

Lilah had riled him up. It still embarrassed him that he’d been so wrong about her.

Their time together had seemed as if nothing mattered but the two of them.

Today, she’d been cruel, and he hadn’t seen a glimpse of the adoring lady he remembered.

He’d also misjudged Lady Hensley. Sebastian was still surprised about the association between the two ladies.

Before today, he would have guessed that Lady Hensley was more proper than anything.

He smirked. She could still be judgmental even if she were the moral paragon of society.

Still, no matter what she thought of Sebastian, the lady had wanted him.

The sound of her moans, when his lips touched her skin earlier, flashed in his mind.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Celeste Hathaway said from the doorway, startling him.

She was dressed in a rich red silk gown that accentuated every one of her curves and highlighted her rich blonde mane. He smiled at her wickedly. “Here I am.”

The tempting woman rolled her eyes. “I’m not one of your ladies. I’m immune to your flirting.”

And she was. They would be a perfect match.

Both were children of lords, sired outside of marriage.

However, Sebastian felt fortunate that he grew up with his father.

The research Sebastian had done on Celeste indicated her own father played cards at the Den.

Not once had Sebastian seen him ever acknowledge her.

He mentioned it once, and she cut him off before he could finish asking his question.

She deserved better treatment. Sebastian should marry her and make her the wealthiest woman in all of London. “Why have we never gotten together?

Celeste pursed her red lips. “What is wrong with you? You are still not pouting about your lady who threw you over for the very lord who can’t seem to stop gambling in your club. It’s her mistake. You must know that.”

He sighed. “I don’t wish to talk about Lilah.”

She made her way to the desk and sat on the edge across from him. “She is—”

“You have asked me not to bring up your personal life. I’m simply asking you to reciprocate.”

A sigh escaped the lady. “Donahue said you wished to speak with me.”

Donahue had to be the most organized and thorough butler in all of London.

When Sebastian and the other owners acquired the Den property, he’d come with it.

They’d offered to give him an exemplary reference if he didn’t want to be part of a gentlemen’s club, but he refused.

The man was the most proper thing about the Den.

Celeste lifted a brow, waiting for him to speak. He smiled at her barely contained impatience. “I wanted to see if you wished to play host one night a week.”

“I’m the host for the gaming tables.”

“I mean for the entire Den.”

She opened her mouth and then shut it, shocked. Finally, she said, “When I first started here, you said no man but you would fill that role.”

Sebastian’s eyes swept over her. Shocking him, she blushed. “You’re no man.”

Celeste smirked. “No, I’m not. Why now?”

“My brother seems to think I’m afraid to leave this property.”

“You have been fairly predictable in your activities. Spending a great deal of time enjoying the vice we serve to others.”

“I too am allowed to enjoy myself,” he stated.

She snorted. “That you have.”

He sighed. Malcolm had already lectured him. He wouldn’t allow Celeste to do it as well. “You are not here to talk about my behavior. Do you have interest?”

She slid off the corner of his desk and studied him. “I will do it, but I demand a raise.”

Good for her, he thought. “Of course. We will meet with all the owners to discuss the specifics.”

She nodded and frowned. “You do know you were too good for her.”

Was it that obvious the lady hurt him? Did everyone think he was moping around? He rolled his eyes. “Out.”

She smirked and flounced out of the room.