“But you did see him, didn’t you? Was he looking for me? Oh, never mind.” She shook her head. “He wasn’t looking for me. He was looking for the map.” Josie felt the tension drain out of her shoulders. It wasn’t as bad as she’d feared. Her secret was still safe.
“He didn’t mention a map,” Ashley said. “But he was rather worried. Care to tell me what’s going on?”
“Not yet.”
“You know I’ll find out.”
“Not this you won’t. Not unless I tell you.” She knew Westman well enough to believe he didn’t kiss and tell. So if they hadn’t been discovered by anyone else, she was safe.
But now it was Ashley’s turn to clutch Josie’s arm. “You didn’t—he didn’t—you two didn’t—”
Josie sighed in exasperation. This could go on all afternoon. “I’m still a virgin.”
“But something happened,” Ashley said, the knowing smile back. “Tell me.”
“No.”
Now Ashley looked hurt, so Josie took her hand. “I want to tell you, but I just can’t right now. Suffice it to say that we argued, and Westman lost.” Lost the map and her friendship.
“Of course, he did.”
Josie laughed. This was why she loved Ashley. No one but her cousins could be so loyal. “But he lost in a big way, and he’s none too happy about it. And yet, I cannot allow him to win, Ashley.” She didn’t want to give him the map back, nor did she want to lose him as a partner.
But how could she keep working with him if he considered her a mistake and an impulse? Drat! He’d even said she was a distraction from the search for the treasure map. Well, she’d show him that she didn’t care about anything but the treasure.
Ashley nodded and stroked a finger along her chin thoughtfully. “Well, then, there’s only one thing to do.” She motioned for Josie to come closer, and then whispered, “Let him think he’s won. Give him what he wants. Do you know what that is?”
A business relationship. Purely professional. That was what he’d said. “Yes,” Josie answered.
“Then give it to him. When he gets what he wants, you get what you want, too.”
Josie considered this. For some reason, Westman did not want to admit his attraction to her, and they couldn’t go back to working together if he avoided her, afraid that what had happened between them last night might happen again. But perhaps if she showed him she could rise above that and treat him purely—well, mostly—as a business partner, then they could both get what they wanted. She could have the treasure and perhaps, in the end, him as well.
“Well, what do you think?” Ashley asked finally.
Josie stepped back and stared at her cousin. “Ashley, you are truly wicked.”
She smiled. “You’re the one who still won’t tell me what you and Westman did last night.”
Chapter Ten
Stephen allowed one hand to glide down her slim, pale neck, while the other lowered her slowly to the library couch. She sighed with pleasure and made quick work of his waistcoat and cravat.
For his part, Stephen was just as eager. He couldn’t wait to get the raven-haired beauty naked. She was short, round, and luscious, her breasts so ample they spilled out of her dress and overflowed in his hands. She had a quick smile, dewy brown eyes, and an eagerness that proved she’d done this before.
Many times.
Stephen clenched his jaw and tried to remember that was one of the reasons he’d chosen her. She was experienced enough to know that a night of lovemaking did not a lover make. And she was pretty enough to tempt him. He’d decided, after very little thought, that he had been celibate far too long. If he were going to keep his head with his partner in business, he had better find an outlet for his other needs.
And that was the other reason he’d chosen the voluptuous Alice Keating. She was nothing like Josephine Hale. She didn’t sound like her, didn’t look like her, didn’t smell like her. Not that he was thinking about her—Josephine Hale, that was. He grit his teeth, and Alice, who had just opened the buttons at his throat, looked up at him.
“What’s wrong, Westman? Don’t you like this?” She slid one hand in his waistband and tugged his shirt free.
Stephen kissed Alice again, then moved back, and pulled the shirt over his head. “I like it,” he said, watching her eyes widen with desire when she saw his chest. “You’re just what I need.”
Reaching down, he pulled her against him and began to divest her of her own garments. There would be no ruched-up skirts and tugged-down stays tonight. He wanted her naked and warm when he plunged into her. He pulled the tie on the back of her round gown and then flicked the three buttons open. The shoulders of the dress slid neatly down, and he got the first sinful glimpse of her lovely pale breasts.
He bent to kiss them, just to run his tongue over the rounded tops, when he heard something above him thunk. Mouth poised above Alice, Stephen looked heavenward and listened.
