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He hadn't expected to find the front door to his cottage wide open

He adjusted his gait to make his footsteps as quiet as possible and crept up to the door Peering in, he saw the back of a woatha's companion, if her pale blond hair and sued with her the day before He didn't realize just howover his copy of Francis Bacon's ESSAYS

Francis Bacon? For a burglar, the chit had rather highbrow reading tastes

Watching her was almost hypnotic Her face was in

profile, and her nose scrunched up in themanner as she examined the book Silky tendrils of flaxen hair had escaped her bun and curled along the back of her neck

Her skin looked warnore the heat that was curling in his belly

He leaned in as close to the doorfra hi? He forced himself to concentrate on her voice, which wasn't easy, since his eyes kept swaying to the gentle curve of her breasts, and that spot on the back of her neck where--

He pinched himself Pain usually acted as decent antidote to one's baser needs

Miss Hotchkiss was , and she sounded rather annoyed

"stupid"

He'd agree with that Sneaking into his rooht of day was not a smart move on her part

" Mrs Seeton"

Who the hell was that?

"Ow!"

Jalaring at his lamp He had to smile She looked so furious that he wouldn't have been surprised if the la out little s to his stomach

His first instinct was to rush to help her He was still a gentleentleman always came to the aid of a woman in pain But he hesitated She wasn't in thatin his cottage, anyway?

Could she be the blackmailer?

And if so, how could she have known that he was here to investigate? Because if she weren't investigating hiirls-- the sort that acted as co