Free Practically Wicked by Alissa Johnson Page A

several dozen) of what it might be like should they meet in passing sometime in the future.
    The exact content of those daydreams had varied, but on the whole she had envisioned herself to be surrounded by a bevy of friends and admirers. She’d been flawless in appearance, composed in manner, and eloquent of speech. In short, her dreams had been flights of extreme fancy in which Max Dane had come to the realization that not returning to Anover House had been a judgment error of colossal proportions.
    Now here she was, dusty and rumpled from travel, alone for all intents and purposes, and stunned speechless.
    Oh, how she wanted to get back into the carriage.
    Fortunately, a lifetime of keeping her chin up, shoulders back, and eyes straight ahead stopped her from making a complete cake of herself. She even managed after a moment to school her features into a serene expression.
    Coherent speech, however, remained elusive.
    “I…Er…”
    Max did not appear to be similarly affected. He quickly stepped forward and executed a smart bow.
    “Miss Rees. All of this has come as something of a surprise to me as well.”
    This wasn’t a surprise. A surprise was finding an unexpected gray hair at one’s temple, leaving one to wonder if one was a trifle older than previously estimated.
    Seeing Max Dane at Caldwell Manor was an outright shock. And seeing him close up prompted the immediate and entirely useless thought that he’d grown more handsome. Probably it was merely that he was (presumably) sober. There were no shadows beneath his hazel eyes, no sallowness to the skin that spoke of too much drink and insufficient sleep. Lord Dane didn’t look like the dissolute rake she’d met at Anover House four years ago, the dashing but inebriated young man whose sensual mouth and captivating charm had tempted her into initiating the most wicked moment of her life. That man had been fascinating and charismatic and, at times, in very real danger of losing his seat.
    The Lord Dane before her now had bowed with an easy grace and restrained strength. He looked strong and hale and…and not particularly pleased to see her. His handsome face was set in hard lines, his mouth unsmiling.
    Was he angry with her?
    Surely not. He had no call to be. Surely , he was simply taken aback, as she was.
    Anna managed a credible curtsy, caught between an involuntary thrill at seeing him again, and the ardent desire to be somewhere, anywhere, else at present.
    She had kissed this man. She had leaned forward and pressed her lips to those lips. And then she’d never seen him again.
    “Lord Dane…” She began, and then, to her mortification, found she was unable to add anything more substantial than, “…Hello.”
    She watched him smirk a little, which both confused and annoyed her. Of course he wasn’t out of sorts. He’d obviously had some warning of her arrival.
    “Hello,” he echoed. “Your journey was uneventful, I trust?”
    They’d become stuck in a rut for two hours. She’d almost turned the carriage around a half dozen times. Mrs. Culpepper’s illness had required they stop repeatedly. One stop had come too late.
    “Quite.”
    “We are all happy to hear it, I’m sure.”
    “Thank you, my lord.”
    Go away, she begged silently. Please, please go away. She could face her new brother, or she could face the man who’d broken her heart. She couldn’t face them both together.
    Engsly cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “Dane’s estate of McMullin Hall is but twenty miles away,” he explained. “Our families have been friends for generations.”
    “How lovely.” Please do make him go away.
    “Miss Rees may wish to hear of our history another time,” Max suggested, and then, as if he’d heard her thoughts and had a care for her discomfort—both of which she highly doubted—he bowed and added, “If you will excuse me, I’ll leave the two of you to become better acquainted.”
    Anna watched him walk away and felt marginally