Page 83 of Kissing the Sheriff

Conrad looked at the door as Cassie’s expression of bliss flashed before him. “I …”

“No excuses. That is not one of your conquests out there.”

“Conquest? Brother, you misjudge me.”

“Oh? What about all the women I’ve seen you with over the last few years?”

Conrad stood his ground. He’d let his brothers think what they would about him. It served to establish his reputation as a rake and kept their mother from marrying him off to some boring heiress. Maybe he’d done too good a job.“For your information, that kiss meant something to me.”

Sterling’s face was stern. “For once.”

He heaved a sigh. “The women of the last few years were not what you call ‘conquests’.”

Sterling didn’t look convinced. “They sure looked like it.”

He looked Sterling in the eyes. “I never bedded a one.”

His brother’s jaw dropped. “What?”

Conrad shook his head and smiled. “Not. One.”

“But, we always saw …”

“What I wanted you to. Good grief, man, do you think I would sully my reputation that much?”

“But you did!”

“No, Icreatedone to keep Mother from doing her worst to me.”

Sterling drew back as his eyebrows slowly rose. “I say, but that’s rather clever.”

He grinned. “I thought so. But a good plan isn’t without its faults.”

“Obviously.” Sterling sat on a bale of hay. “Still, you kissed her. The women here are as chaste as our women.”

“Most of the English women we’re acquainted with are. How could I take that from them, brother? Do you think me such a cad?”

“I’d hoped not. But please, be it a simple kiss or not, don’t break Cassie’s heart.”

Conrad laughed. “I can hardly do that.”

Sterling stood and gave him a hard stare.

Conrad’s face fell. “What’s this?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed?”

Conrad gulped. “Noticed what?”

“By Jove, you haven’t,” Sterling said, astonished. “How can you, of all people not see it?” He shook his head and smiled. “Cassie is, as they say here in America, sweet on you.”

Conrad fell onto the nearest bale of hay.“What?”

Sterling nodded knowingly. “It’s becoming more obvious every day, brother. The way she looks at you, the tilt of her head when you’re near, the barely hidden shyness in her voice. How can you miss it?”

Conrad rubbed his face. How had he missed it? “The women I kept company with at balls and parties weren’t all chaste. I suppose I ignored any looks on their part or signals, to keep myself from wanting more than a shield from Mother.”

“You were using them, brother. Plain and simple.”