Free Discovery of Desire by Susanne Lord Page B

instant but his look was unreadable. “I’m sure we are grateful for the aid.”
    With those cool words, Mina’s doubts returned. Should she not have extended herself on Mr. Mayhew’s behalf? Any woman, any person , would be sympathetic, wouldn’t they? “It was the work of a moment, really.”
    â€œYes, well,” Thomas murmured. “Your friends may do far better than us.” He opened the door of the carriage, one of a dozen waiting outside Benson’s Hotel to carry the venture girls the short distance to the lake. “Ladies?”
    Mina could think of nothing to say, so she took his hand silently as he handed her into the carriage. But he didn’t join her, continuing to wait on the pavement for Mr. Mayhew.
    In the dim carriage, she took a steadying breath. Helping Mr. Mayhew might have been a mistake. Did Thomas think her distracted by the explorer? Did he doubt her regard? Was Thomas waiting for her to somehow encourage his offer, or was she free to just… accept an unspoken one? And with Colin Rivers delayed, should she commit to him at all?
    Or was she driving herself mad for no reason?
    â€œThat’s quite a blade, Tom.” Mr. Mayhew’s deep, laughing voice sounded from outside the carriage. “I thought this was a snipe hunt. You expecting to wrestle a panther?”
    â€œAll right, all right,” Thomas said. “I have no need of the knife. But it rather completes the outfit.”
    â€œShould I grab my poleax in case we encounter a flock of pigeon?”
    â€œYou’re late,” Thomas said, climbing into the carriage.
    â€œI know it.” Mr. Mayhew appeared framed in the door of the carriage wearing a safari hat. “But only by a minute. I couldn’t inconvenience these pretty women. Good afternoon, ladies.”
    The brim shaded his eyes so all Mina could see was his hard jaw and the tilted smile of his lips… She had not really noticed the shape of his lips before. They were fuller than she realized. A mouth built to smile and taste. And talk, too, she supposed. He stretched his thick arms overhead to lean against the carriage door’s lintel, and his powerful chest tapered dramatically to lean hips and a trim, flat stomach.
    Oh dear. He was distracting.
    Emma must have been similarly affected. She sighed. And rather lengthily. “We weren’t waiting. Perhaps a moment, but that is not any wait at all. I mean, it’s quite all right, Mr. Mayhew.”
    Mina smiled with real amusement. But really, a woman would have to be blind not to be attracted. And deaf. And she could not touch any part of Mr. Mayhew, not with those muscles. Yes, she’d have to be altogether insensible. Perhaps dead.
    â€œGood afternoon, Mr. Mayhew,” she said.
    Mr. Mayhew pushed back his hat and his sea-green eyes latched on hers and—drat him—that triggered a strange quiver in the pit of her stomach. He smiled the slowest, loveliest smile.
    And then, of course, he winked at her.
    She turned to look out the window, and then stupidly hurried to pull back the curtain a moment later. She had never been so affected by a man. And the timing was truly terrible.
    He wasn’t entering the carriage. A small hope lit within her. Perhaps he had changed his mind; perhaps he wouldn’t come?
    â€œLadies, if you’ll excuse me.” Mr. Mayhew stepped back from the carriage. “I thought I might ride up on the box, get a view of the city.”
    â€œ Nooo , Mr. Mayhew.” Emma leaned forward in her seat. “You must not deprive us of your company.”
    â€œIt pains me to refuse a pretty woman, but I don’t think I can listen to Tom hold forth on all his rousing tales of chicken hunts.”
    â€œ Quail .” Thomas shook his head but he was grinning. Perhaps the men were becoming friends after all.
    Mr. Mayhew’s eyes glanced off Mina’s before he pulled his hat brim low and closed the