Page 45 (1/2)

“You see, you make your own rules, and why should you want me here?”

“Temper, sweet love I want you within my sphere You are …” He hesitated “An unknown, a bit of a mystery with your particular, er, aura, yes, let’s call it aura”

She felt deflated She had wanted hi for her, ‘liking’ her company This was not what she wanted to hear, and she frowned and turned away from him “I see,” she said in a small voice

“Indeed, and you are a delectable beauty, Miss Winthrop I can see why your good doctor uses your given name so freely … Sassy,” he whispered in a voice that made her feel fevered “Yes, it has quite a feel to it”

“I a yourself aboutshe sounded imperious to him

“I ae of that, my Sassy Don’t dislike me so vehemently, I may not be just what you see”

“Meaning what exactly? How do you knohat I see? Tell me, my lord, do you see who you appear to be?”

“You mean if I bothered to look?” he returned sharply

“Yes, if you bothered to look at yourself, would you see a man with disdain for others less fortunate, less clever, less elevated? You behave as though the truths you see are the only tr

uths You don’t allow yourself to see another’s”

His blue eyes regarded her with an intensity that sent shivers of desire through her, desire that was difficult to deny In spite of what she saw, in spite of what she said, she wanted him Did he see that?

“I believe in your truth, Sassy Winthrop I believe in yours, and I thought I would never believe in a woed “Most women would take that as a compliment—do you?”

“I do not,” she returned, gazing at the hands she had folded in her lap

“Why not?”

“Because I believe you are trifling with ic, yours that caused my … my …”