Free Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enoch

father-killing heroine of Greek myth.” Somehow, her choice wasn’t a bit surprising. She seemed something of a man-killer, herself.
    â€œIf you don’t like it, then choose something else.”
    â€œElektra is fine.”
    â€œHmph.”
    â€œTruly. I like it. Elektra. Very nice. A strong name for a brave young kitten. All of the others ran away, you know. She stayed to get her share of milk.”
    Finally Evangeline’s mouth softened again. Good. At least she wasn’t mad at him. Now, though, at the sight of her upcurved, slightly parted lips, he wanted to kiss her. He’d been dreaming of kissing her again for the past three nights, uncertain whether it had been as pleasant and stimulating as he remembered, or whether he’d been too drunk to realize that nothing spectacular had happened at all.
    â€œYou are an unusual man,” she commented quietly, cuddling Elektra against her chest, “taking in stray kittens and inviting women who’ve slapped you out to luncheon.”
    So she remembered the kiss, too—or at least the end of it. “I kissed you without invitation. I deserved to be slapped.”
    â€œAnd so now you’re a completely proper gentleman?”
    â€œNo. But the next time we kiss, I will ask you first.”
    Her cheeks darkened. “What makes you think there will be a next time?”
    â€œBecause I can’t imagine there not being one.”
    That stopped her for a moment. She sat beside him, absently scratching Elektra and gazing at the crowded London streets around them. Apparently he’d given the correct response, since she hadn’t slapped him or thrown the cat at his head. And oddly enough, he’d also given a completely honest response. He did want to kiss her again, and however efficiently she seemed to evade him, he knew— knew —he would kiss her again.
    â€œWhere are we going?” she asked finally, still not facing him.
    â€œSt. James’s Park. I thought we might picnic beside the pond.”
    â€œThat sounds nice.”
    He nodded, fighting against the urge to smile. “Did you bring your evil gemstone?” he queried, mostly to give her a moment to recover her usual, more acerbic self.
    â€œNo, I didn’t. I told you it was nonsense. There’s no such thing as a diamond giving someone bad luck or good luck.”
    â€œThere are those who would dispute that. As we’re here together and it’s elsewhere, I, for instance, would say that its absence is good luck.”
    â€œFor you, perhaps.”
    â€œBut if my theory is correct, to prove it you would only need to wear it, and I would fall off the carriage and break my neck.”
    Finally she faced him again, her expression serious, but her hazel eyes dancing. “If only I could be certain, I might risk it.”
    â€œVery amusing, Gilly. I consider that your leaving it behind means you like me and don’t wish me to lose any appendages.”
    â€œSuit yourself, but I merely considered a diamond necklace too much decoration for a picnic.”
    Connoll grinned. “Very well. I’ll be grateful and keep my peace.” They turned onto the park’s main path, and he slowed the team of chestnut mares to a walk. “Did I interrupt Redmond’s visit earlier?” he asked in a hopefully offhand tone. Whatever her intentions regarding the earl or vice versa, he refused to be jealous of the old windbag. He did, however, want to know what was going on. And he’d already given himself permission to do anything necessary to disrupt it.
    â€œHe came by to see whether I might be available for luncheon,” she returned, waving as they passed another carriage.
    â€œHe actually is a suitor, then? Not just some very, very, very old friend of the family?”
    â€œHe’s one-and-fifty. That’s not so very old.”
    â€œNot for dirt or some select bottles of wine,” he retorted. “As