Free The Russian's Tenacious Lover by Nic Saint Page B

“I can’t wait to see daddy’s girl grounded and Tom behind bars!”
    And with those words, she left Hugh to his musings. The plot was definitely thickening, he thought, and he wasn’t so sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

CHAPTER 15

    She didn’t like to pretend with the likes of him. So when he inquired how she felt about a country ramble, she simply refused, telling him in no uncertain terms how she felt about being confined to a car with a well-known thief and philanderer.
    “Philanderer?” He caught the word with an expression of surprise. “I’ll have you know, Miss Fox, that it’s been months since my last—”
    “Confession?” she interjected.
    “Affair,” he corrected pointedly.
    “Too busy stealing women’s purses to dig a little deeper and steal their virtue?” she inquired.
    “I’ve never…” He halted, his voice betraying an anger that was untypical of him. “I’ve never touched a woman inappropriately, nor have I ever forced myself on a member of the fairer sex.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And I’ll have you know I’ve never snatched a purse in my life.”
    Touché, she thought with satisfaction. For some reason, she enjoyed getting a rise out of him, and when she did, the consequent darkening of his brow satisfied her to no end.
    They were seated on a stone bench in the gardens, watching the family poodle gamboling along the shrubs. No longer confined to his room, Thomas appeared perfectly at ease in his new surroundings. Glynis, on the other hand, hadn’t relaxed her vigilance. She still feared the man might be up to something. Though he’d given his word he’d help her retrieve the stolen gem, she didn’t trust him.
    “I guess some women like to associate with a known criminal,” she said airily. “I’ve never understood this fascination with the underworld, but there you have it. To each his own, I guess.”
    He turned his head, and she felt his eyes roam her face, causing her to display that infernal flush again. Goddammit, what was it about him that made her turn scarlet each time he looked at her? If anyone had seen her, they would have thought she was the ingénue, not Jennifer Crocket.
    “You are, by far, the most infuriating Scotland Yard woman I’ve ever met,” he said softly, then added, “and the most intriguing. Tell me, what made you choose to fight crime? Didn’t you have enough to do running the family estate?”
    The inherent implication that she was a rich wastrel looking for something to occupy her time had her straining to keep her volatile temper under control. When she finally managed to speak without grinding her teeth, she said, “I think being a law enforcement officer is the noblest profession possible. It may come as a surprise to you, Mr. Spencer, but not all of us want to undermine society. Some of us actually want to serve and protect, not merely loot and pillage.”
    With a lift of her head, she discovered that a small smile had appeared on his lips.
    “So what you’re saying is that not only do I ravish women on a daily basis—after stealing their purses, of course—but behave like a scoundrel by pillaging their homes and looting their kitties as well.”
    “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
    “A fondler of kittens and looter of kitties,” he murmured, then pursed his lips. “Quite an achievement. You, my dear lady, are a keen judge of character.”
    In spite of herself, she couldn’t help but smile at this. “Thank you. I aim to please.”
    “I think it must be the cop in you, Glynis. These keen observations are part and parcel of your diligent training, I presume?”
    “That, they are, Mr. Spencer,” she acknowledged haughtily.
    “For God’s sakes, woman,” he suddenly burst out as he turned on her and took her shoulders in a firm grip. “Don’t talk such bloody nonsense!”
    She raised her chin while unsuccessfully trying to escape his clutches. “It’s not nonsense when it’s the truth! You,