Free Forbidden by Rachel van Dyken, Kristin Vayden, Kelly Martin, Nadine Millard Page B

cabinet?
    Mariah had had some strange ideas in her time
but even she could admit that seemed a little far-fetched.
    It didn't stop her drinking it, however.
    The first sip burned its way down her throat
and she coughed and spluttered and genuinely thought for a moment
that she would die. But, after the burn subsided she quite enjoyed
the feeling of warmth in her belly, and she took another healthy
slug.
    "So you're a thief then?"
    Mariah yelped at the sound of the voice
behind her and promptly spilled the contents of the glass all over
the front of her.
    "Good heavens, you scared the life out of
me," she said breathlessly swiping ineffectually at the front of
her dress. "What are you doing sneaking up on people?"
    Mariah waited for his answer as she rubbed at
the now soaking material of her white muslin. When none was
forthcoming, she glanced up and her heart simply stopped then
galloped.
    His blazing eyes were riveted to the front of
her dress where the brandy had soaked through the material.
    Mariah thought, for a horrified minute, that
perhaps it was see-through but as she followed his gaze she saw
that although there was a hint of skin, there certainly wasn't
anything, well, improper on display.
    She glanced back up and this time, her eyes
locked with his. Good lord. He looked almost savage. Mariah
suddenly thought of the pirate captain she'd once read about in a
book she'd sworn up and down she hadn't read when questioned
by Mama.
    But she had read it. And she'd enjoyed it
immensely.
    And now, here Brandon Haverton stood, looking
like the hero of her scandalous novel come to life.
    His hair, though not long, was just as dark
and silky in the dim light of the fire.
    His eyes, black as coal but filled with fire
as they bored into her.
    He didn't wear a jacket and Mariah could see
the muscular outline of his torso and stomach as her eyes raked
over him greedily.
    Suddenly, the brandy wasn't the only thing
heating her anymore.
    Mariah waited for him to speak but he uttered
not a word. Just stared.
    So then, she should speak.
    Really she should leave. She had told herself
that she wouldn't spend any more time with him. And here she was.
Spending.
    "If you'll excuse me," she mumbled and made
to leave the room.
    But as she passed, Haverton reached out and
grabbed her upper arm.
    "Wait," he said gruffly.
    Mariah's skin fairly blistered with the heat
from his touch.
    This was not good. Not good at all.
    She waited. And still he did not speak.
    "Mr. Haverton, really I –"
    "You've been hiding," he said abruptly.
"Why?"
    Mariah pulled her arm away and stepped back
from him.
    "I've been busy."
    "Too busy to eat in the dining room?"
    "How do you know where I've eaten? You
haven't been in the dining room either," she countered.
    "Yes, but I admit I've been hiding."
    Oh.
    "Why?" she asked, still refusing to admit to
the same thing.
    He sighed then and moved to decant himself a
glass of brandy, pouring another for her without asking if she
wanted one.
    "I don't want another."
    "You spilled the first."
    "Yes, so I should change my gown."
    "Oh, I'm not complaining, just replenishing
your drink."
    Mariah swallowed. He had the uncanny ability
to render her totally speechless with just a few words.
    He crossed back to her and handed her the
glass, which she took without comment.
    "Will you sit for a moment? I want to talk to
you"
    Mariah hesitated before complying. He rarely
spoke so nicely to her, and her curiosity was piqued.
    Besides, loath as she was to admit it even to
herself, any chance she had to spend time with him was something
for which she was grateful.
    She waited for him to speak, but for a long
while he just sat staring into the glowing embers of the fire.
Eventually he began to talk, his gravelly voice playing havoc with
her already fraying nerves.
    "I must apologise for my behaviour at dinner
the other night. I was unpardonably rude. And you don't deserve
it."
    Well, that was a good start.
    "Thank you," she said. Then,