Page 24 of Just About a Rake (Ladies Who Dare #5)

D are’s lips lingered on Leonora’s, the heat of her breath fusing with his as they tumbled onto his bed. The world outside—his cousin, her family, society at large—seemed far removed from this, trivial in comparison. It was just them—his pulse in his ears, the soft curve of her body beneath his, and the promise of everything he thought he could never have.

It hadn’t been a dream.

She’d hunted him down to the warehouse.

She’d told him she loved him.

She was in his home. His arms. His bed.

Then— knock knock knock.

Dare groaned, breaking the kiss with a reluctant sigh, resting his forehead against Leonora’s. She let out a breath of laughter, and he closed his eyes for a moment, willing the interruption to vanish.

The knock came again. “My lord?” a muffled voice came from the other side of the door.

“What is it, Brett?” he called impatiently.

“Sorry to interrupt, my lord, but you have a caller.”

He groaned louder, rolling off of Leonora and sitting up on the edge of the bed. “Tell them to go away.”

There was a pause, then, “It is Lord Heart, my lord.”

Bloody hell.

“Heart is here?” Leonora shot up beside him, her wide blue eyes darting between him and the door. “What do we do?”

He looked at her, his lips curling into a wicked grin. “What any self-respecting rake who has already been ruined would do. Cry foul.”

She laughed, the sound bright and carefree. Trusting. “Then go cry foul, my lord.”

The way she said it, with that playful lilt to her voice, made him want to stay right there with her. But if he didn’t deal with Heart, the man would probably turn the whole damn house upside down searching for him.

He shoved off from the bed and made his way to the door, cursing the fates for being so cruel. Damn Heart. With one last, regretful glance at Leonora, he left his bedchamber to go and deal with his future family-in-law.

Descending the stairs, he slowed before coming to a complete halt midway. Heart stood at the bottom of the staircase, a scowl etched across his sharp features and his hands clenched at his sides. His whole body bellowed righteous indignation.

Heh.

No matter what Dare felt for the man, there was something undeniably entertaining about the way they could never truly stand each other. And if he were being honest, there was always a tinge of amusement to be found in watching him squirm.

Their eyes locked, and Heart’s face darkened—if possible—even more.

“Do you always greet guests half-dressed?”

Dare glanced down at his attire. He and Leonora had come straight from the warehouse, so he hadn’t given it much thought. At least he was wearing a shirt. He shrugged. “I’m comfortable enough.”

“Of course you are.” Heart’s voice was laced with distaste, though it was hard to tell if it was the lack of clothing or simply the sight of Dare himself that irritated him.

“This is my house, is it not?” Dare answered smoothly, taking in Heart’s own frazzled appearance with a lazy smile.

“Where is Leonora?” Heart asked, his voice suddenly tightening.

“I’m here.”

Dare glanced up the stairs, catching the sight of Leonora standing there, a vision of glorious defiance. Her sandy hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves, her gaze trained directly on him, as though she had just stepped out of a dream.

“Leonora!” Heart’s voice cracked through the air like a whip. “I am not even going to begin to comment on this behavior. Yet.” His tone chilled. “Let’s go. Now.”

Leonora crossed her arms over her chest in clear challenge, her chin raised high. “I’m not going anywhere,” she retorted coolly, every bit as stubborn as Heart.

“You’re not staying here either,” Heart snapped.

“I beg to differ.”

“Dare, you blackguard!” Heart’s glare turned even more fierce. “Are you just going to stand there?”

Dare leaned against the banister of the staircase, an amused smirk tugging at his lips despite the tension thick in the air. “I do what the lady tells me,” he said with a casual shrug. “You are more than welcome to stay too.” He flashed a wolfish grin at Heart. “We are family, after all.”

Heart’s lip curled. “No, we aren’t.”

“Dare,” Leonora murmured, her voice laced with concern. She moved closer to him, her fingers brushing his arm. “You do realize he’s completely furious, don’t you?”

“You do realize I can bloody hear you!”

“Oh, I’m well aware,” Dare replied, ignoring Heart. “Should we reassure him? We are getting married after all.”

She laughed. “Impossible rogue.”

Heart cursed. “Are you sure this is what you want, Leonora?”

Her gaze settled on Heart, and Dare caught the slight clench of her jaw. “Do not think I have forgiven you yet for your interference. I’m marrying Dare, and you cannot stop me.”

Heart’s face reddened, and for a moment, Dare wondered if the man might actually explode. But instead, Heart took a deep breath, visibly trying to maintain his composure. “We can talk about this at home.”

“This is home,” Leonora said softly, so softly that Dare’s heart throbbed.

He cleared his throat. The last thing he wanted for Leonora and her family to be at odds because of him. He exhaled and tipped his head toward the hall. “Come to the study, Heart. We can talk.”

Heart narrowed his eyes. “Oh? Finally ready to beg for my blessing?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of offering you a drink before you expire from all that righteous fury.”

Heart let out a sharp breath, shaking his head as he stalked toward the study. “God help me if we’re going to be family.”

Dare winked at Leonora. “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Dare quipped, guiding his betrothed toward the study as well.

He gave a happy, hearty laugh. Inside his head, of course.

Betrothed.

The End