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Gabe watched as a hand grabbed Dimity’s ankle. She tried to kick it away, but it traveled upward.

“Release her!” His words rose above the noise of the others. Surprise had the man who was touching Dimity step back.

Looking up at her, Gabe watched the shock on her face change to shame, then anger.

“What are you doing here?”

“My sister is worried about you and sent me to find you.” He raised his voice above the roar as he muscled his way to stand beneath her.

She loved Abby; he saw it in the tears that formed in her blue eyes at the mention of her name.

“Tell her I am well. Now leave.”

“This is you being well, is it?” Gabe grunted as someone shoved him in the back.

“Go away, Lord Raine. I am working.”

“Come down off that bar, Dimity, and I will take you home.”

“No.” She started singing loudly, swishing her skirts, the hem rubbing his cheek. Gabe swiped it aside. “I no longer have a home.”

“Get lost, she’s having fun. This ain’t the place for a fancy-dressed gentleman. You’ll end with your pockets empty and your pretty face bruised if you don’t leave.”

Gabe turned to face the man who nudged him in the back again.

“Back away,” he growled. “Now.”

“Make me.” The man’s jaw jutted out, and those around him urged him on.

“Don’t touch him!” The words came from Dimity. “He’s leaving.”

“I’m not leaving without you.” He looked at her over his shoulder.

“Don’t be a fool. This is no place for the likes of a soft-bellied nobleman,” she said between verses. “An earl.” She spat out his title with her usual disrespect.

Hell and damnation, only this woman could boil his blood in a matter of seconds.

“Shut up and get down here.” He grabbed her hand and tugged; she fell into his arms with a loud screech that had his ears ringing.

“Unhand me, you bloody fool! They’ll tear you apart.”

Gabe ignored her, simply placing her over his shoulder. Clamping a hand around her legs, he began to wade through the crowd of men, who were now howling their protests that he was taking their entertainment away.

He used his legs and the free hand, ensuring every strike hit its mark and would subdue, but still he took a couple of blows to his face.

Dimity hammered on his back, but he did not release her.

Pulling out his pistol, Gabe held it before him, and suddenly his path to the door was cleared.

Reaching it in a few strides, he wrenched it open and left the building, slamming it behind him.

It was amazing just how much the wood muffled the sound, as now he could hear Dimity Brown’s curses clearly. Deciding to put some distance between her and the Salty Sailor, he walked back the way he’d come, still carrying her over one shoulder.

“Put me down, you oaf!” Her fists pummeled him. “I need that job!”

He knew she had pride and also knew she’d never ask him or his family for help, but what was his sister’s piano teacher doing working in the Salty Sailor, or any tavern for that matter?

As luck would have it, his carriage was rolling to a stop where he’d left it, so he opened the door and stepped inside.

“Drive and don’t stop until I tell you, Toddy.”

Dropping Dimity onto the seat, he took the one across from her.

“You bastard!” She spat the words at him. “Why did you do that? You’ve likely cost me my job!”

She was dressed in a cheap gaudy dress that showed off far too much of her lovely body. He saw the rise of her breasts above the ruched red bodice. Rouge was smeared on her cheeks, and her lips were the color of rubies.

“You look like a trollop,” he said. She should revolt him. Unfortunately, she didn’t.

“Don’t speak to me that way! You don’t know me. I hate you!” Words continued to pour from her lips. Defamations of his character, and words that from a man would result in meeting him at dawn.

He’d never seen her this way before.

“Calm down, Dimity.” Gabe used his soothing tone. It didn’t work. The next minute, he had his arms full of irate woman as she launched herself at him.

“Loathsome bastard!”

Her nails were close to his face, so he took evasive action, wrapping both arms tight around her.

“Stop now,” he ordered in the voice that usually subdued his siblings.

“Go to hell!” Her mouth was inches from his, so he did the only thing he could.

He’d wanted to kiss this woman from the first day she stood across from his desk, buttoned into a prim brown gown.

Those lips and her lush beauty had slapped him hard in the face.

It wasn’t like him to be reckless or take action without thought.

But this was different. This, Gabe told himself, was a necessity.

Soft, he thought, and sweet. Her lips tasted so good.

Shock had them opening, so he delved inside.

His arms pressed her body to his. His head was soon swimming with nothing but Dimity and the need to get closer to her.

The need that had his body tight and hard in seconds.

She softened and slumped into him. Seconds or minutes; he wasn’t sure how long he held her. Then he felt the sharp sting of pain.

“Ouch!” He thrust her onto the opposite seat and touched his now puffy lip. She’d bitten him.

“Don’t ever do that again.” Her eyes were narrowed and glaring at him, but she was calmer. “I will not be pawed by you.”

“You were kissing me back, Dimity.”

“No, I wasn’t,” she lied.

“I’m sorry.” He said the words slowly, realizing that he did owe her an apology.

What the hell had he been thinking to do that to her, especially considering the emotional state she was currently in.

Gabe didn’t behave without thinking his actions through…

ever. “I should not have done that. I assure you it won’t happen again. ”

She gave an abrupt nod.

“I am sorry too,” she whispered. “I should not have spoken to you as I did.” Her jaw clenched, and she looked close to tears again.

“Tell me what you were doing in that place, Dimity?”