Free To Tempt a Scotsman by Victoria Dahl

nearness, the savage light in his eyes. . . She had to breathe deep to clear her head. "You could have me."
    "You are not the type of woman a man simply beds."
    That surprised a sharp laugh out of her. "I am exactly that type of woman."
    "Don't speak that way of yourself," he growled. "It's not true. I knew the moment I met you it wasn't true."
    "But. . ." she choked out, confused and oddly hurt by his words.
    "We all do stupid things when we're young, Alex. Do not let past indiscretions dictate the rest of your life. You are a fine woman—smart and kind."
    "Oh, Collin," she sighed and pulled her hand from his. "Don't be naive. I'm truly ruined. The Errant Heiress, they call me. The Duke's Despair."
    "You are rich and beautiful and the sister of a duke. Don't tell me you haven't had men clamoring to marry you even since the scandal."
    She shrugged, sullen in the face of the truth. "Not the kind of men I'd marry."
    "One day there will be. And you should not damage yourself further because of past mistakes."
    This was almost comical. Was he really turning her away out of some misguided morality? She did not want to be fine and good. She wanted to be happy.
    "Good-bye, Alexandra. It was truly a pleasure."
    My God, he was really going. She set aside her pride for later. "A kiss good-bye, at least?"
    He hesitated, but only for the barest moment. "Aye. Of course."
    Reaching high on her tiptoes, she pressed her mouth to his before he could change his mind. He kissed her tenderly and thoroughly—and held her body an inch from his. Undaunted, she pressed her palms to his chest and felt him shift toward her. Good. Good. He was saying farewell and she would likely never see him again and he would damn well think of her when he was gone.
    She couldn't stop the small, sad sound she made as he closed the space between them.
    His hand curled into her hair. His mouth left hers. He pulled her back and stared down at her, eyes sliding over her eyes, her neck, her parted lips. Then his hands slipped out of her hair and he stepped away.
    "Good-bye," she whispered, hating the feel of his heat seeping away from her.
    Collin Blackburn opened the door of her room and walked silently out of her life.

Chapter 6
    "Julia will be coming out next Season?"
    "Oh, yes." Aunt Augusta fairly vibrated with excitement. "And she has finally shed her baby fat, Alex! You cannot imagine how excited she is!"
    Alexandra forced a smile. Of course she could. She had felt that same excitement not two years before.
    "We are taking her to Madame Desante for her wardrobe, of course."
    "Of course."
    "She says that the coming styles are perfect for Julia."
    "That's wonderful, Aunt Augusta. And Justine? Is she thirteen now?"
    "Oh, yes. And as wild as her little brother." A tired sigh made her cheeks quiver. "We shall see about that one."
    Alex couldn't help but smile a little more widely. "She will outgrow it, I'm sure. And you have only Julia to think about now."
    "Oh, and she will be lovely. You must come to her ball, Alexandra. She would miss your not being there."
    "Perhaps," she lied. She had absolutely no intention of slinking back to London with her tail between her legs, and she certainly would not taint her cousin's coming out.
    When Augusta turned to speak to Mr. Covington, Alex swept her gaze around the table, then glanced up to her brother to watch as he raised a subtle toast in her direction. She grinned, aware that she was lucky to have such a wonderful brother. He made her comfortable life possible. If he'd been anyone else she'd have been married to a fortune hunter by now. Someone more than willing to overlook her scandalous past for the chance of shaping her into the perfect rich wife.
    Her eye caught on Robert Dixon then, smiling at her from mid-table. She smiled back.
    He was a cousin of some sort, though God knew how distant. She'd met him twice before. He was very handsome, in a polished, blond sort of way, and he had been subtly flirting with her