Free A Taste of Seduction (An Unlikely Husband) by Mary Campisi

that door over there,” he said, pointing a long finger at the thick, oak door leading to the hallway.
    “Philip,” Alexander’s deep voice filled the room. “I doubt anyone is interested in my personal affairs.”
    “Just stating facts, son. You know I’d like to see a baby or two running around the house before I meet my Maker.” His blue eyes twinkled. “But now that I have Francie here, who knows? Maybe she’ll give me a little baby to spoil.”
    Francie felt the blood drain from her face. “I...don’t think... so,” she stammered.
    The earl continued as though he hadn’t heard her. “Who knows? Maybe Alex has been stalling with Tess because she’s not the one for him. Maybe,” he added, swinging his blue gaze from Francie to Alexander, “Alex has been waiting for someone else.”
    Her father’s insinuation was quite clear. He meant Alexander had been waiting for her . How could he even think such a thing? Couldn’t he tell they had difficulty being in the same room together?
    Alexander cleared his throat. Twice. “I happen to like my single state, Philip. Very much.” His eyes narrowed on the old man. “And I intend to keep it that way.”
    “I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m merely suggesting a possibility. Isn’t that right, Bernard?”
    Uncle Bernard hadn’t spoken more than three sentences since dinner began. Every now and then , Francie caught his gray gaze swinging from her to Alexander Bishop. “Hmmm,” he said, stroking his bushy beard and tilting his head to one side. “Hmmm. Francie and Mr. Bishop.”
    “This is ridiculous.” Alexander shot the earl a murderous look. “Miss Jordan and I would never suit.” His gaze settled on her. “Never.”
    Heat rushed to her cheeks and she blurted out, “Mr. Bishop is right. The whole notion is preposterous.” Though he needn’t be quite so adamant about it. For heaven’s sake, you’d think she was a two-headed monster.
    Her father smiled and shook his head. “One thing is for certain. You’ll never get to know one another if you can’t dispense with the Miss and Mister. Isn’t that right, Bernard?”
    All eyes flew to Uncle Bernard. “Usually, that’s necessary at some point if an acquaintance is to develop into a relationship of any substance.”
    “Miss Jordan and I—”
    “Francie,” the earl corrected.
    “Francie,” Alexander said through clenched teeth. He was on the verge of losing his temper. She knew it. His eyes narrowed to half-slits, his mouth set in a firm line. And the jagged scar, the telltale sign, grew silver-white. “Francie and I,” he began again, “are not in the least interested in developing a relationship of any kind.” His gaze burned her with the heat of his anger. “Are we, Francie ?”
    “No, Alexander , we are not in the least interested,” she forced herself to reply.
    The earl raised his hands in the air. “Fine. Enough said on that subject. If you can’t be husband and wife, then we’ll have to settle for brother and sister.”
    “I agree,” Bernard said. “Brother and sister. That should suit the two of them just fine.” He smiled then, a slow, lazy smile she’d grown accustomed to over the years. He reserved this smile for situations, usually in her studies, when Francie formed one conclusion and the correct answer was the exact opposite. The more impassioned she became while arguing her position, the broader her uncle’s grin.
    But this was real life. And she was not interested in one Mr. Alexander Bishop. No matter how broad her uncle’s smile stretched, she was not interested. Most definitely not.

Chapter 6
     
    “Where is she, you old witch? Where’s Francie?” Jared Crayton advanced on the old woman as she bent over in the fields, cutting some kind of purple flowers. And ignoring him.
    “Look at me!” he demanded, his fists clenching and unclenching. How he’d like to get his hands around her fat neck and squeeze until she talked. He’d teach her to show