Free Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress by Theresa Romain

because she wanted him just as he was, and there had never been any question of him wanting her, with her needle-sharp mind and siren’s body. Kisses and embraces and words of passion, until his dream body had been wound hard and tight with passion. When he finally covered her, ready to thrust—
    His body had jerked, snapping him awake. To the sight of the sloping ceiling of his rented room. To solitude, and a superfluous erection, and an awkward awareness that he had never had such a passionate dream about any of his few and cursory past lovers.
    â€œYou relieve my mind,” he said, only because that sounded better than, Are you sure? Not even one more proposition? Not even a little indecency?
    Better for them both to keep the gloves on, to remain at a safe distance.
    If there was such a thing as safe distance when one person sought a blackmailer and the other a lover.
    â€œI can’t exactly tell you how to proceed with Paynter and Duffy,” Augusta explained, heedless, “because you cannot do what I would do, using a breathy voice and batted eyelashes.”
    With an effort, Joss dismissed his heated dream and returned to the present. “Two weapons outside my armory, that is true. How are they best employed?”
    â€œWhen interfering in my father’s business affairs without seeming to do so. If I wore trousers and had my hair cropped short, I might be credited with knowledge. But since I am burdened with gowns and a dockyard ”—Joss choked—“then Meredith Beauty’s affairs are overseen by trustees.”
    â€œMen, I assume, who wear none of the company’s lotions or cosmetics or perfumes.”
    â€œNot in public, no. They do not. Their private affairs might be quite different.” Augusta paused at a turning in the path. “Which way ought we to go?”
    â€œTo the left,” Joss said at random, and onward they walked. When he ventured a look back through the lacework of tree branches, he could just see the northern side of Queen Square. It appeared to be one giant mansion of pale stone, yet it was cleverly chopped into a series of houses behind the long pedimented facade. Nothing was quite what it seemed among the wealthy. “How do you persuade the trustees around to your way of thinking?”
    â€œI give them a bit of cooing on minor matters related to the company’s products. The labeling that catches the eyes of flighty females. The pricing suited to a lady’s pin money.”
    â€œLabeling and pricing? You advise them on important aspects of the business, then.”
    She tipped her face up to his, and a devious smile crossed her lips. “I don’t know what you mean, sir. Those are only small affairs, far beneath the dignity of men. As my breathy voice and batted eyelashes make entirely clear.”
    With a low laugh, Joss said, “I see you were not exaggerating your persuasive abilities. Indeed, you persuaded me to take a list of four names, when I thought myself too proud to take anything at all.”
    â€œAbout that list, yes.” Her voice returned from a coo to its usual timbre. “There’s probably no purpose to speaking to Paynter again, since he won’t give you a good price for your cousin’s land. If you choose to meet with Whittingham or Duffy, take care not to…oh, I don’t know what to call it. ‘Man flirt,’ maybe.”
    Joss stumbled. In righting himself, he shook her hand from his forearm. “Man flirt? Man flirt ?”
    â€œYou know what I mean. All those sly smiles and jokes that may or may not be bawdy and chatter about sporting events.”
    â€œI know what you mean, and I would not call it ‘man flirting.’ It is conversation. ”
    She shrugged. “Call it that if you like. Whatever the name, that approach works for puffed-up dandies of the beau monde . To a man of high society, money is the means to buy things to impress others. Like