Free To Seduce a Rogue by Tracy Sumner

young girl full of hopes and dreams, sure that life was going to be different, wonderful, exciting. I ran around, free as the wind, and twice as fast. Didn’t think about anything, didn’t need to. Didn’t care what anyone thought, didn’t need them.” She reached into the straw purse anchored on her wrist, retrieving a lace handkerchief. Dabbing the corners of her lips, her gaze searched Charlie’s. “Dear, please excuse me, what was I saying?”
    “You were—”
    “Oh, oh, I remember. Your father. A lovely man. He let you have too much rope, I always thought.” She crooked her head. “By the way, where is he?”
    Charlie took a step back. “Ah, he’s...um...”
    “He couldn’t make it today. The newspaper, you know.”
    With a potent sense of inevitability, Charlie let her gaze slide to the ground and the dusty riding boots planted beside her. She pushed her hair from her face and gradually raised her eyes.
    The wind whipped his into his face as well. He didn’t prevent it, only stared at her with sympathy.
    “The newspaper. On a day like this?” Mrs. Mindlebright stepped closer to Adam and peered into his face. “Just who are you, young man?”
    Adam touched Charlie’s arm. He must have read her blank look. “Please excuse my rudeness.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. She swallowed and tried again. “Mrs. Mindlebright, this is Mr. Adam Chase. He’s the new editor of the Sentinel . Mr. Chase, this is my former deportment teacher, Mrs. Mindlebright.”
    He took her gloved hand in his and touched his lips to her fingers. “A pleasure, Mrs. Mindlebright.”
    If he found it amusing that Charlie had taken deportment lessons, he contained it well.
    Mrs. Mindlebright preened, her eyes flashing with delight. Charlie had to admit he seemed capable of playing the part of the gentleman.
    “Mr. Chase, did you say? Related to the Charleston Chases by any chance?”
    He inclined his head. “No, ma’am, I’m afraid not.”
    “Ohh...the balls they used to have. Glorious, simply glorious. The sweet smell of magnolias, moonlight spilling across the terrace, the most beautiful courtyard in all of Charleston.” She smiled. “Just lovely.”
    Charlie shot a glance at Adam. How can we escape ?
    “We must be off, Mrs. Mindlebright. So much work to be done for the picnic, you know. Again, a pleasure.” He grasped Charlie’s elbow and shoved her forward.
    A dry whisper floated by Charlie’s ear as they passed. “A fine young man, Charlotte. A fine young man.”
    Adam pulled Charlie past the tables of pies and cakes, past the barrels of cider and ale. She didn’t object when he led her through the doors of the Dole’s barn. Built of the finest timber this side of the Mississippi, it was large enough to house twenty horses. The air was thick with the odor of manure and sweat.
    He stopped at the first stall and stepped inside, rifling through a saddlebag. He returned and thrust a leather-covered flask at her. “Drink.”
    “What?”
    “For God’s sake, you’re as pale as fresh snow.”
    She uncapped the flask and took a healthy swallow. Then her hot blue gaze met his.
    “No coughing? No teary eyes?” He grinned. “Why, Miss Whitney, if I didn’t know better, I would say you’ve sampled before.”
    She flushed. “So what if I have?”
    Laughing, he said, “Charlie Whitney has returned.”
    Her eyes shot fire, but she took another sip.
    He sobered and took a step forward. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded, her eyes glued to a point beyond his shoulder. “I had no idea what to say. If you haven’t already noticed, I’m not particularly skilled at handling people. Especially Edgemont’s grande dame who, sad to say, seems moderately senile. And...” She blinked and glanced at the straw-covered floor.
    He stared at her bowed head, his hand lifting. Then he sighed and let it drop. She was strong; she might not want his comfort. As if it had a mind of its own, his gaze traveled over her, taking in