“My nose, then? You can be honest with me,” she told him. “I know it’s a bit sharp. Family trait, but I have nice lips. Or at least I’ve been told so, but”—she narrowed her eyes at him—“you hate my lips, don’t you? Don’t you?”
He shook his head. “What are you blathering about, Miss Hale? There’s nothing wrong with your lips or your nose.”
She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand.
“Or your hair. Now, can we please get back to work? It’s late, and I’m tired.”
“I’m tired, too, which is why I’d appreciate you just being honest with me. If it’s not my hair or my face, is it my body?”
She glanced down at herself. She didn’t usually give her figure much thought. Like all the Hales, she was tall and thin, with long legs and a graceful neck. She thought about Ashley, who men always called beautiful, and her cousin Catie, who had recently married. “It’s my bosom, isn’t it?” Josie tried not to be embarrassed at mentioning her breasts. She tried to behave as a woman of the world might, but it was rather difficult when she was not yet a woman of the world.
Westman blinked at her again. “Miss Hale, I don’t—”
“They’re too small.” She cupped the offending flesh. “That’s it, isn’t it? That’s why you don’t want me as your lover. I’m too flat-chested.”
“Miss Hale—”
“But I’m really not that flat. It’s just this dress is a bit big for me, and these aren’t my best stays.”
“Miss Hale!”
She was close to tears now. Lord, had she ever debased herself so much? She must be more tired than she’d realized. She should just go home now, before she said anything truly mortifying. “I’m going home,” she said, turning away from him. “I’m sorry to be such an idiot. Maybe that’s why you don’t want me.”
She hadn’t taken two steps when she glanced in the mirror directly across the room and saw him coming for her. He hesitated at first—his face a mélange of confusion, aggravation, and indecision— and then he moved so quickly that his arm came around her waist before she could even cry out. He hauled her against him, taking her breath with him so that she let out an unladylike, “oof!”
But then he was holding her. She was enveloped in his arms, and she hadn’t realized before quite how thick his wrists were or how solid his chest was. And she didn’t remember him smelling so good either. She wanted to lean back against him, but she didn’t dare degrade herself further. Was he touching her just to show her what she could never have?
“God help me, but I do want you, Miss Hale,” he said, and his velvet voice almost brought her to his knees. And then she deciphered the words.
Josie’s head shot up, and she felt it smack into his chin. “Oh!” She craned her neck slightly. “I’m so sorry. What did you say?”
He rubbed his chin.
“Can you say it again? Please?”
He looked down at her with those hypnotizing blue eyes. “I want you.”
“But my bosom—”
He chuckled. “There’s nothing wrong with your breasts. Bloody hell, but I wish there were.”
She felt his hand loosen from around her waist and inch upward. Her breasts tingled in anticipation.
“In fact, I wish I’d never met you.”
“Why?”
“Because if we keep on like this, I’ll ruin you.”
His hands caressed her abdomen as he spoke, and her belly tensed. “You’ll lose your reputation, your family, your place in Society. You want adventure? This one might be your last.”
“No reward without risk, Westman,” she whispered. “That’s what my grandfather always said.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re so naive. So young. I’m a fool to want you. But I do want you.”
“Why?”
“A hundred reasons.” He kissed her nose. “Your mischievous smile.” His breath was so warm and soft against her ear. “Your tempting lips. Your perfect breasts.” His hands inched upward.
