Free Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood

to be.
    â€œCaine? After we’ve had our baths, what will we do?”
    â€œYou’re going to sit down and tell me everything that happened to you.”
    â€œI’ve already told you what happened to me. You didn’t believe me though, did you?”
    â€œNo,” he admitted. “I didn’t.”
    â€œBesides, your mind is already set against me, Caine. You won’t believe anything else I tell you. Why should I make the effort?”
    â€œMy mind isn’t set against you,” he answered. His irritation was obvious in his tone.
    She let out a rather inelegant snort. Caine vowed he wouldn’t let her draw him into another argument. He led her through another maze of back streets. She was so exhausted by the time they’d reached the steps to the impressive, redbrick town house, she wanted to weep real tears.
    A giant of a man with a rather sinister-looking scar creasing his forehead opened the door on Caine’s insistent pounding. The man had obviously been asleep. He wasn’t happy about being awakened, either. Jade took one look at the stranger’s dark scowl, and edged closer to Caine.
    The man she assumed was Lyon wore only a pair of black britches. The frightening scowl quickly turned to a look of true astonishment as soon as he saw who his visitor was. “Caine? What in God’s name . . . come inside,” he rushed out. He moved forward with the intent of clasping Caine’s hand, then abruptly changed his mind. He’d obviously just gotten a good whiff of the two of them.
    Jade was horribly embarrassed. She turned to glare at Caine, a silent message that she still believed her foul condition was all his fault, then walked into the black and white tiled foyer. She saw a beautiful woman hurrying down the winding staircase then. The woman’s long, silvery blond hair flew out behind her. She was so lovely, Jade felt all the worse.
    Caine made hasty introductions while Jade stared at the floor. “This is Lyon, Jade, and his wife, Christina.”
    â€œWhat happened to you two?” Lyon asked.
    Jade whirled around, raining drops of sour water in a wide circle. She lifted her hair out of her eyes and then announced, “He threw me in the Thames.”
    â€œHe what?” Lyon asked, a hint of a smile in his expression now, for he’d only just noticed what looked very like a chicken bone dangling from her hair.
    â€œCaine threw me in the Thames,” she repeated.
    â€œHe did?” Christina asked. Lyon’s wife sounded astonished.
    Jade turned to her. “He truly did,” she announced yet again. “He didn’t apologize afterward either.”
    After making that remark, she burst into tears. “This is all his fault,” she sobbed. “First he lost his carriage wheel and then he lost his instincts. My plan was really so much better. He’s just too stubborn to admit it.”
    â€œDon’t start on that again,” Caine warned.
    â€œWhy did you throw this poor dear in the Thames?” Christina asked again. She hurried over to Jade, her arms outstretched. “You must be chilled to the bone,” she said in sympathy. Christina came to a quick stop when she got close to Jade, then backed up a space.
    â€œIt was necessary,” Caine answered. He was trying to ignore Jade’s glare.
    â€œI believe I hate him,” Jade told Christina. “I don’t care if he’s your friend or not,” she added on another sob. “The man’s a scoundrel.”
    â€œYes, he can be a scoundrel,” Christina agreed. “But he does have other nice qualities.”
    â€œI’ve yet to see them,” Jade whispered.
    Christina wrinkled her nose, took a deep breath, and then put her arm around Jade’s waist. “Come with me, Jade. We’ll have you cleaned up in no time. I think the kitchen will serve us better this night. Lyon? You best wake up the staff. We’ll need