“I won’t say it again,” Warrick said with a deeper edge to his voice. “Leave. Now.”
“Why should I leave?” A clear challenge meant to provoke.
“Because I’m not feeling like a gentleman at the moment, Selena. I’m feeling more beast than man.”
“Oh? Should I be scared then?”
“Yes, because even I am terrified, damn it.”
Oh?“I have never seen you terrified to face a challenge before.”
“Do not test me, Selena. I’m hanging on by a thread even as we speak.”
“Why not test you? Lord knows, I have been tested time and time again since that list was pasted into the betting book.”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “You are going to make me bald at this rate.”
“Always going on about your precious locks and so-called receding hairline. It’s all in your head, you know.” Receding hairline or not, the man was still handsome as sin. He’d be handsome even if he had no hair on his head at all.
“I have a mirror.”
Selena scoffed. “Tell me something, Phineas.Haveyou found the peace you sought this past week? If not, just act the beast. What have you to lose by it?”
“You do not know what you are saying.”
“You are done acting the gentleman, and I’m done acting the lady.”
“You don’t have to act the lady, youarea lady.”
“Well, I don’t want to be one anymore.”
“Stop acting so stubborn. You will be ruined if you stay.” That burning gaze dropped to her shirt, then he growled, “Did I not tell you never to wear those damn trousers again?”
Selena smirked. “Are you provoked? Good. My mission has been accomplished.”
“Iwill ruin you.”
“Is that what you meant by being more beast than gentleman?” Her heart sped up, and she inched a step closer. “You say ruin, I say explore.”
“What has gotten into you?” he demanded.
“Perhaps I have turned into a beast as well.” She paused. “Though I did call on you for a reason.” She had intended to provoke him and then inform him about the note. But honestly, she could always tell him about the summons later.
“Out with it and then leave.”
“But now I’m enjoying myself too much to leave.”
“Selena, I’ve no patience for games today. Go before I do something we both regret.”
Both regret? Selena was rather sure they had already sunk far into a bog of regrets. She wanted to free herself from it, which was why she’d suddenly changed her mind about telling him about the real reason she’d sought him out today.
A familiar rush of excitement washed over her.
Ah, yes, she’d often felt this thrill years ago whenever he’d spoken to her or even shared the same space with her. Only it was no longer the innocent kind of excitement that shot up her spine, but rather something much more tempting. Irresistible. An urge she no longer wanted to hold at bay.
“I may have come for one reason, but now I’m staying for a different reason.”
“Selena.” A low growl, one that brought a smile to her lips.
