Free Taming the Last St Claire by Carole Mortimer Page A

as I am that you should even
think
of me as a “big strong man”, Joey,’ Gideon said, noting the wings of colour that appeared in her cheeks at his teasing, ‘your own role as helpless little woman is, as usual, seriously in question!’
    ‘Good,’ Joey muttered with vehemence—at the same time knowing that helpless was precisely how she had felt a few minutes ago, with her hands raised above her head, her blouse unbuttoned and her breasts being plundered by Gideon’s marauding lips and tongue. And she’d loved every second of it!
    Looking at him now, every inch his usual cold and aloof self, Joey found it extremely difficult to imagine those intimacies had ever taken place.
    ‘So, how do you suggest
we
proceed?’ she pressed on.
    ‘I don’t want you involved, Joey,’ he insisted.
    ‘Isn’t it a little late for that?’
    ‘Involved any further than you already are,’ Gideon amended. ‘The most sensible thing for you to do is to go home and leave me here to investigate further,’ he added grimly.
    He had no idea what the hell was going on, and until he did he would feel happier if Joey was safely at home.
    She quirked auburn brows. ‘No date tonight?’
    No date for some time, as it happened. ‘No,’ he admitted. ‘You?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘I hope your agreement to work here for a month isn’t in any way affecting
your…friendship
with Jason Pickard?’
    As it happened, Jason had finally told his parents the truth about himself and Trevor. The senior Pickards hadn’t been overjoyed at the news—especially as they’d realised it meant they would probably never have any grandchildren—but according to Jason they were slowly getting used to the idea.
    Which, of course, meant there was no longer any reason for Joey to go out to dinner with Jason.
    ‘Wouldn’t it be more sensible if I hung around for a while and helped you to investigate?’ Joey said brightly. ‘That way I could give you a lift home once we’ve finished.’
    ‘Not necessary,’ Gideon said. ‘I’ve already telephoned my garage, and they’re driving over a replacement car and will take mine away to fix it,’ he added firmly as Joey would have interrupted again.
    Must be nice, Joey acknowledged ruefully; the most the garage who serviced
her
car ever gave her was a bill! Not that they were even open at six-thirty on a Wednesday evening. There were obviously benefits to being Gideon St Claire—
Lord
Gideon St Claire! ‘I could still stay and help—’
    ‘Joey, I may have suggested that you’re far from being helpless,’ he rasped, ‘but that doesn’t mean I don’t still intend to protect you. From yourself, if necessary.’
    ‘You really are a male chauvinist, aren’t you?’ Joey accused.
    He smiled slightly. ‘Didn’t you miss
pig
out of that statement?’
    ‘Oink!’ she muttered, with feeling.
    Gideon had to bite back another smile. At the same time he wondered how it was that Joey could so easily turn his mood to amusement as well as anger. Along with several other emotions he would rather not think about right now. Such as an uneasy jealousy of any
friendship
she might have with a certain Jason Pickard.
    ‘Just go home, hmm, Joey,’ he said, suddenly deadly serious again.
    Her chin rose in direct challenge. ‘And what exactly are you going to be doing to investigate after I’ve gone?’
    He gave a noncommittal shrug. ‘Checking into a few things.’
    ‘Such as?’
    ‘How about I discuss that with you in the morning?’
    Joey eyed him warily, not sure she altogether trusted him to do that, and yet not seeing any hint of evasion in the steadiness of his darkened gaze as it so easily met hers.
    Those same eyes had turned the colour of molten gold when he’d looked down at her semi-naked breasts only minutes ago. Well, at least she now had the answer to
that
particular question; Gideon’s eyes blazed that beautiful colour when he was aroused—to passion as well as to anger!
    Something Joey would probably be