Page 8 of Defying the Duke
She’d had the same intent, and they nearly collided in front of the rack. This time she acquiesced and turned to let him put on her garment. As he brought the fabric over her shoulders, he automatically spun her to face him, gently tugging the lapels in place.
Dinah glanced at his hands, then looked at him with wide eyes, her lips parted temptingly.
Jack leaned in just a fraction before catching himself.
Dinah simply watched, her eyes darting from his lips to his eyes and back.
Do not kiss her.
Her fingertips pressed against her lips as if she felt his thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She gave her head a little shake and looked away. “Nothing.”
“You reacted as if I kissed you,” he argued.
“No. That’s silly. We didn’t kiss.” Her brows drew together, and he wasn’t sure if she was upset at his suggestion or that they hadn’t kissed.
“You’d know if I kissed you, believe me.” He slid one foot closer to her, leaning in just the slightest.
Dinah didn’t move.
“First, I’d take your shoulders in my hands and gently draw you in.” Like a fly to the spider’s web. “I might brush my thumb over your jaw like this.”
Those full, lovely lips of hers parted.
“I’d watch your eyes closely, looking for permission…”
He still saw only questions in her gaze.
“I might touch your hair, brush it back from your face, and notice the silky softness against my fingertips. Trace your hairline, the curve of your ear, down to your jaw.”
Did she shiver, or did he imagine it? Her tongue brushed against her pouting lower lip, and he almost moaned. Please, he wanted to beg.
When he met her gaze again, he saw it, the desire, the wanting him to do something, so he did. He leaned in, bent his head to match the tilt of hers, drew in the sweet scent of her on a breath—
And came to his senses. What in the name of all that’s holy was he doing? He could not kiss this woman!
He released her from his grasp and stepped around her to the door. “That’s what I would do if I kissed you. Now, let’s get you home safely.”
Dinah screamed inside but fought to keep her expression pleasant. The nerve of the man! To tease her like that was pure torture. Why, he nearly kissed her. His lips had been so close to hers that she’d tasted his breath. The sound of his quickened breaths echoed in her ears, telling her he’d wanted that kiss as much as she had. Why had he stopped?
She knew why he’d stopped. He was a gentleman, first and foremost, and her boss. But wouldn’t that stop him from even discussing a kiss with her?
Such a frustrating man he was. Tormenting her that way. She could tell he knew she’d never been kissed like that by the way he spoke. How cruel of him to pretend he would consider doing so with her.
But Dinah Westfall wasn’t the sort of woman dukes fell for, not the sort they dallied with. Abingdon had simply put her in her place and told her to stop any foolish fantasies about falling for him.
She would do just that. Throw away any dreams of a man that handsome falling in love with her.
She would do it as soon as the memory of his hot breath on her lips cooled, and her ear forgot how it felt to have his feather-light touch brush over it. As soon as her heart could see him and not race with desire.
But for tonight, she’d remember.
CHAPTER 4
That near-kiss was on Jack’s mind the entire next day. It was also the reason he didn’t arrive at Miss Westfall’s office until five minutes past six. He wanted to ensure she had her coat on and was ready to leave.