Josie screamed in surprise as the man crossed the room, his hand coming over her mouth to cut off her cry. She tried to fight against the arm that came around her shoulders, but he pulled her snug against him. “Good evening, Miss Hale.”
Recognition dawning, Josie let out a whoosh of air and sagged against him. “Westman,” she mumbled, though her words were unintelligible.
“Don’t scream,” he whispered and relaxed the hand cupping her mouth. “Promise?”
She nodded and made no sound as he slowly drew his hand away. The callus on one finger trailed along her cheek, tickling and tantalizing the skin. He put his hands on her shoulders, and she allowed herself to be turned until she faced him, until she was once again looking up into his handsome face.
“I should have known you’d be here,” she said.
He shrugged. “You said we couldn’t talk at Almack’s. You didn’t say we couldn’t talk here.”
“I see the malaria has already begun to rot your brain.”
He frowned. No sense of humor, she decided.
“Do you know how much trouble you caused me tonight?” she asked. “Because I couldn’t account for my time with you, my mother took it upon herself to find me eligible dance partners, which means I danced with every ugly, boring, foul-smelling man in attendance. Do you know what she would have done had she found me with you?”
“I can only imagine. I didn’t anticipate that a girl like you would care so much for the social niceties.”
Josie straightened. “What does that mean? ‘A girl like me’? What kind of girl do you think I am?” She took a step back, but he caught her shoulder before she moved too far away.
“Don’t get all huffy now, Miss Hale. I mean no disrespect. I like you. We’re two of a kind.”
She crossed her arms. “And that’s not disrespect?”
Westman grinned.
“I’m glad you find this amusing, Lord Westman, but I am in no mood for games.” She took a quick inventory of his hands and the floor around him but didn’t see her treasure map. She held out one imperious hand. “Kindly return the map to me and climb back out my window.”
“Forceful. I like it.” He took her outstretched hand.
“I mean it, Westman. Give me the map and go.”
“That’s not what you really want me to do.” Still holding her hand, he drew her closer. And then when she was flush against him, he backed up, taking her with him. Josie’s head started to swim. “You don’t really want me to go, do you Miss Hale?”
She felt his legs bump her mattress, and she willed herself to break free. He wasn’t keeping her against her will. His touch was so light that she could easily escape.
But she didn’t want to. No, now that they were against the bed, she wanted to see what would happen.
Josie swallowed as she allowed him to push her down on the bed and then sat next to her. She’d never had a man in her bedroom before. Even her brothers and her father did not cross this room’s threshold. Her bed and her room seemed so small with Westman beside her. He was everywhere she turned—his body, his scent, his soft voice. She shivered, and then made a valiant effort to regain her wits. She was no milksop miss who would faint the first time a man tried to kiss or touch her. She was in control here. This was her room, and he had her map.
“I suppose,” she began, testing her voice, “the question, we should be asking, Lord Westman, is what do you want?”
Good. That was better. Her voice was cool and controlled, but also low and seductive. She watched as the pupils of Westman’s pretty blue eyes widened.
“You mentioned the treasure earlier this evening. Is that what you’ve come for, or do you have something else in mind?” She let her tongue flick out to wet her lips.
She heard Westman’s breath catch for a moment. Ah-ha! So he was not entirely immune to her. But his voice was cool when he answered. “I have a great deal in mind for you, Miss Hale. But for the moment, I’m hunting treasure.”
“And what makes you think I can help you?”
“The same thing that made you think I could help you. You need the other half of this map.” He patted his coat pocket. Josie’s eyes widened. So that was where he’d secreted it.
Without thinking, she reached forward greedily, but he caught her wrist before she could touch his coat. She tried to wrench free, but this time he was not so gentle. With persistent, steady strength, he eased her back, following her down until her wrist and her body were pinned on the bed.
He was above her, his face so close she could see every long eyelash framing his blue eyes. He held her effortlessly, using one arm and his body to pinion her. Josie was not so foolish to believe that if she tried to free herself with her other arm, he would not catch that one, too.
And would she really have minded that? She was afraid she would rather enjoy being at his complete mercy. But her pride forced her to keep her free arm out of his reach.
