Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Bryn growled low and stepped toward him.
“Bryn.”
That was all Falcon had to say. He whipped back around to the woman, who looked all too freaking cute in his coat. Her skin seemed a bit too pale, even for it being winter. He wanted to take her home and get her warm.
“Are you okay?”
She gazed around him and sucked a sharp breath. Then she glanced at his hand.
“Are. You. Okay?” he reiterated.
Those green eyes, the color reminding him of the numerous fields he was lucky enough to see on trips in Ireland when he would visit his great-grandfather. Not strictly one shade but variegated ones that caught the light—and his heart.
Damn it, now he was waxing poetic.
“Fine. Thank you for your assistance. I should be going.”
He snorted and shook his head, even as he heard, “Goddamnit, Keely, what the hell are you doing down here?”
It looked like they’d found his sister. Grasping the hand of the woman in front of him, he brought her up along his side as he turned to see Falcon and his sister standing toe to toe.
Keely Lucina St. Martin. His baby sister who wasn’t a baby anymore but a young woman with a spirit that wasn’t ever going to be tamed. Her amber-whiskey gaze swung over to him then on to the woman at his side.
The scowl that had been present vanished and a grin tilted up full lips.
“Rosamunde. I was hoping I would catch you but you dashed off so fast.” A furrow appeared on her brow. “How do you know my brother?”
Chapter Three
Her brother?
Heart thundering behind her ribs, Rosamunde flicked her gaze between the two apparent siblings once more, finally picking up on the similarities. If she were to believe the rumors surrounding the son of Lucien St. Martin, the Marquess of Heartstone, the other man with him was his best friend and cohort in all things, Garrett Morgan. A man known in most circles as Falcon.
She had to escape. It was time to run away and head to the relative safety of her home. It may not be warm, but standing beside this man, surrounded by his woodsy scent, was driving her to distraction. It wasn’t fair.
Her future didn’t include anything with this man, and even though she wasn’t exactly experienced in things involving a relationship between a man and a woman, she wasn’t completely ignorant. She’d heard people talk and, quite honestly, had seen some things while passing alleys.
Still, random passings and overheard conversational snippets were far different from being surrounded by the raw masculine scent that came with… Oh Lawks! I’m standing wearing an earl’s coat like we are an actual couple.
Heat surged up her cheeks and she tugged her hand from his and began to remove the heavy, oh-so-warm coat from her shoulders. How incredible would it be to have a man think of her comfort first? Fanciful thoughts were one thing, but this was bound to get back to his circle and she didn’t want anything to embarrass him.
“No.” He brushed her fingers away and settled his clothing firmly back in place. “You’re coming home with us, Keely,” he said to his sister like he’d not just treated Rosamunde like a child who needed help with their clothing. “No arguments. Falcon, get a hack.”
Falcon glared at the woman once more before striding off to do as ordered, Rosamunde presumed.
Seconds later, Keely was standing in front of her. “You shouldn’t have left, Rosamunde. I would have had Chip take you home.” She flatted her lips. “Well, close enough that you would have been safe.”
A low grumble rolled from the earl, still standing so close she could feel the heat emanating from him even while in his coat!
“Neither of you should be out here alone.” He pinned his intense gaze on her only to swing it back to his sister. “You’re by the docks! Mama is worried.”
“I am perfectly safe,” Keely retorted, only to stiffen when Falcon strode back up, his every move showcasing his power.
“Like hell you are,” Falcon growled. “Hack’s waiting.”
Without waiting, he gripped Keely and propelled her off to the waiting vehicle, leaving Rosamunde alone with the earl, who still had her wrapped in his coat.
“And you,” he rumbled. “Who are you? Why were you down here?”
“Thank you.” She forced the words out without stumbling over them too much. It was easier when she didn’t look him in the eyes. “For stepping in. If you’ll let me go, I’ll see myself home.”
Rosamunde shifted back. Or rather, tried to. His grip on the coat tightened and she couldn’t move.
“Cute.”
She snorted. She’d been called a lot of things but cute, well, that had never been one of them.
“I’m not having you put your parents through what my sister is putting mine. We’ll escort you home.”
He took her to the waiting hack and helped her inside, ignoring the man at the door offering his hand. She found herself seated beside a seething Keely. Trying to take up the least amount of room she could, she hugged the wall.