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.Jewel kept wiping the tears off her cheeks.She didn’t know when she had laughed so much.Seeing her eyes glisten with laughter, Adam once again found himself wondering about the lady.He knew Jonathan was trying his damnedest to be charming, and it irritated him.But despite that, Adam was surprised the evening proved so enjoyable.He now found he’d hate leaving her, but he knew he must.“Jewel,” Adam said, gaining her attention, “I’ll be departing for London in a couple of days.”“Why?” Her brow furrowed but her eyes never left his.“Why?” He couldn’t believe she had asked why.instead of just accepting his statement.He certainly couldn’t tell her the truth, and he wasn’t accustomed to explaining why he was doing things; however, there she sat, waiting for his answer.“I’ve decided to let Jonathan oversee Briercliff when I return to America, so I need to see my lawyer to sign the necessary legal papers.Perhaps if I’m lucky, I also will hear something about you while I’m there.Enough time has elapsed.Someone should be asking questions.” Of course there was another reason, the most important of all, but she’d have to accept the excuse he’d just given.“Jonathan has agreed to keep an eye on you while I’m gone so if you need anything, he’ll be near.”“I will look forward to your company, Jonathan.” Jewel presented him with the most dazzling smile.Then turning to Adam, she said, “Have you decided when you’ll be sailing?” Adam clenched his teeth at the way she smiled atJonathan.Why didn’t she look at him that way? Since that night when she’d blurted out that he was handsome, she’d treated him as an older brother—an aging duke.She could at least look a little sad, he thought.Instead, she seemed happy at the prospect of seeing more of Jonathan.Damn woman! It was a good thing he didn’t care a fig for her.as it was, she was driving him crazy enough.“I’ll be sailing the first of the year,” Adam stated bluntly.His previously good mood having disappeared, he found he didn’t want to discuss his leaving any further.“Good night, Jewel.” Standing abruptly, he looked at Jonathan.“Shall we have our brandy in the study?”Well, she might not have a memory, but she certainly knew when she’d been insulted! Jewel raised an eyebrow, having picked up the damn habit from him.She wouldn’t give Adam the satisfaction of seeing how his words stung her.Slowly, she placed her napkin on the table, then rose from her chair.She turned to Jonathan, addressing him deliberately.“You have made dinner very pleasant tonight.I hope to see you again soon.” Turning, she walked out of the dining room with her head held high, but before she got completely through the door, she looked over her right shoulder.“Good night, Your Grace.”Adam smiled grimly.He’d noticed the high color that stained her cheekbones and knew he’d made her angry, but at the moment he required some distance from her.He also needed to speak with Jonathan in private, he realized with a weary sigh.Tomorrow, he would make amends.He’d promised to take Jewel riding, and that was just what they would do.Yes, tomorrow would be their day.Chapter SevenThe next morning, seeing the door to Jewel’s room ajar, Adam gently pushed it open and leaned against the doorway while he watched with amusement as she jerked the silver-handled brush through her ebony tresses.Her hair crackled and shone, and Adam wondered if she longed to use that brush on him.He knew she saw him in the mirror, and he wanted to laugh at her rigid back as she attempted to ignore him.It didn’t seem to bother her one bit that she was dressed in a rose-colored robe.There didn’t seem to be a modest bone in her body, and he wondered about that.Just what kind of upbringing had she had? In every other way she appeared a lady.Evidently, she was still a little upset over his rude dismissal of her the night before.“Don’t you ever knock?” Jewel snapped, eyeing him from the mirror.“Not in my home, I don’t,” he drawled, a slight smile upon his face.Her reflection glared at him.“If you’re trying to point out that this is your home—I’m well aware of that fact.”From the way he looked, her rudeness hadn’t fazed him.His casual manner irritated her.“Still angry about last night?” he asked casually.“What makes you think I’m upset?”“Well, for some strange reason your hair seems to be taking a lot of abuse.I wouldn’t be surprised if it all fell out, the way you’re brushing it.” He chuckled.She slammed the brush down and turned to face him.“Is there something I can do for you?”His eyes twinkled devilishly.“Sweetheart, there’s a lot you could do for me.However, I’m going to do something for you.”“Oh.” Jewel looked skeptical.His easy humor caught her off guard.“How would you like to go for the ride I promised? I thought we could take a picnic lunch.”She jumped up, forgetting her earlier irritation.All she could think about was getting beyond the castle walls and out into the fresh air.“Do you mean it?” Seeing Adam nod, she ran over, threw her arms around his neck, and placed a light kiss on his cheek.“Thank you! I’ll be dressed in a moment.” In her excitement, she hadn’t thought twice about her small display of affection, or the fact that her arms were still wrapped around his neck.At his sharp intake of breath, she suddenly realized the position she was in.Before she could retreat, his arms went around her waist, and she felt his breath hot against her forehead and his hard muscular body beneath her fingers.She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.With only a robe between them, Adam liked the feel of Jewel’s firm young body pressed next to his.He reached out and stroked the curve of her throat with his knuckle, thinking perhaps they should have their picnic here in the bedroom.What a delicious thought!She wasn’t good at hiding her emotions, and somehow he knew he’d always be able to look into her liquid brown eyes and see the truth.At the moment, he could see doubt, but there was a passion that burned deep, a yearning he’d seen other women pretend to feel.God help him, he wanted to taste the fire and lose his soul in this woman’s charms.Bending his head, he gently brushed her lips.His voice sounded raspy as he struggled for control.“Sweetheart, I think you should get dressed.unless you can think of something else we could do?”Remembering that Jewel wasn’t one of his paramours, he released her.But the move was so sudden that she stepped back on her gown and lost her balance.Quickly, he reached to steady her.She really was clumsy, he thought, but adorable.Jewel trembled.She had no idea what to say.Adam’s lazy smile made her breath catch, and she felt that she was falling under his spell.And the worst thing was that she couldn’t seem to stop herself from feeling this way.Being only a temporary part of his life, she could never be anything more to him.Hadn’t he already told her he was leaving and, memory or no memory, she’d be on her own? The feelings she had for him were nothing more than gratitude [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]