Free To Bed or to Wed by Sandra Sookoo Page A

He blurted the observation without conscious thought.
    She lifted her gaze to his, curiosity and pleasure warring in her eyes. “I beg your pardon?”
    His pulse thundered in his ears, but he swallowed his anxiety. “Blue suits your complexion and your eyes. If you should decide to stop playing companion to Jamie and his friends and enter the Marriage Mart, remember to wear shades of blue. You’ll land a husband within a month, I’d wager.”
    A pretty blush stained her pale cheeks. Was it due to the cold or his words? “Thank you, but I have no intentions to marry.”
    “Ever , or in the immediate future?” It was bad form to pry, yet the need to know her answer and reasoning scratched at his brain.
    Charlotte chuckled. “Now or ever. I’m not certain if I want to marry, for it makes men fat and lazy and interminable pushovers. It turns the best of men into spineless slaves.”
    A laugh escaped him when he didn’t know that he could laugh. “Not all men. Some will retain their superiority and masculinity even through the marriage bond. Are there none who have caught your fancy?” Why am I so inordinately interested in her romantic affairs? Not two hours ago, he couldn’t wait for her to quit the estate and leave him in peace.
    “Oh, you mean you realize I have no designs on your or your nephew?” Again, her eyebrow rose, but there was no animosity in her expression. “Did you assert your ‘masculinity and superiority’ in your study?” This time, a note of teasing rang in her voice.
    Heat crept up his neck. Ah, there it was. “Yes, well.” He had not the capacity to form a comeback, so he ignored the rib. “I apologize for what I said in the maze.” His shoulders relaxed slightly. “I was trying to protect Jamie.”
    “It’s quite all right. And protect yourself, I would imagine.”
    “Indeed. There are fortune hunters aplenty. I do not wish to land any of them. If I had my way, I’d scoop them up and send them back to wherever they came from before allowing them back in my vicinity.”
    “That is good news. ”
    “But…” Why the devil did he even want to bring this up? “As for our contretemps in my study, I won’t apologize for that. In fact, it was rather refreshing.” Would she take exception to that and flounce away in a temper? She should. What kind of woman in her right mind would think her near ravishment was refreshing?
    Amusement danced in her eyes. “I didn’t ask you to apologize. I enjoyed our time together for what it was. I, for one, thought it thrilling and quite exciting. However, I would appreciate it if it remained a secret between the two of us.”
    “Of course.” He nodded. “It reflects poorly on both of us.”
    “ No, I merely wish to not have that particular memory sullied by gossips.” She sought out his gaze and held it. “You’re not accustomed to being on intimate terms with people, are you? The fact you and I sparked has thrown you into a tither. I suspect you wish to be left alone more often than not.”
    “I thought I did.” Not for worlds would he admit to enjoying her company. Perhaps for her he’d make an exception.
    She laid a mitten-covered hand on his sleeve. “And no, I’ve yet to meet a man who will personally challenge me or…” Her gaze skittered over his left shoulder.
    If possible, his heartbeat pounded harder. Though it had been a long time since he’d tried his hand at courting, his gut clenched with excitement as he realized he very much wanted to do so with her. So much for wishing for solitude. It was inconceivable his desires had blown away and changed direction like the fickle wind, but there it was. He cupped her cheek and turned her face toward him. “Or what?”
    Charlotte moistened her lips. He followed her movements, his gaze fixated on her mouth. “I want a man to set my insides aflame as well as stand up to my penchant for bossiness, for I know I have a terrible penchant to manage people. I detest a man who allows