Free Enticing the Earl by Christie Kelley

you’re not involved,” he demanded before kissing her again.
    Involved? With what? This time she tore her mouth from his. “What are you talking about?”
    “Davies,” he said harshly. “Tell me you are not trying to extort money from me.”
    “Simon,” she said in a soft tone. “I just reviewed your books. There is no money to extort and yet, I am still here and in your arms.”
    Slowly, his muscles relaxed and his lips lifted upward. “So you are.”
    This time when he leaned in to kiss her, punishment was not on his mind. As his tongue swept over hers, seduction was the objective of his kiss. And she let herself respond in kind, answering his passion with her own. She wanted to lose herself in his kisses, forget everything save this man who wanted to make love to her. Only she couldn’t let him do that.
    When he moved his lips to her jaw, she moaned. “Simon, we must stop.”
    “I know,” he whispered against her ear. “I’m sorry I shouted at you. I never meant to frighten you.”
    “You didn’t,” she lied, letting her face rest against his for a long moment. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt me and I believe you.”
    “Tanner put it in my head that you might have been involved in whatever scheme Davies has in mind. I’m sorry. I knew better, but seeing you near the estate books made me think for a minute that he could be right.”
    “I’m sorry. I feel like this is all my fault, that I brought this down on you and your family.” And thinking about the fortune in gold that she had found on his land only made her guilt worse. He could have used that money to help the estate, pay his bills, cover the wages of the servants. She had to find more. For him.
    “I think Davies planned on using you to get to me, Mia. I don’t know what he wants but it concerns me.”
    Still in the warmth of his arms, she let her head rest on his shoulder. “What could he want from you?”
    “I wish I knew.” He kissed the top of her head.
    “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    He shook his head against her. “I don’t believe so. Just let me know if you see Davies around Hartsfield Park.”
    “I told you before that he seemed to fear stepping foot on your lands.”
    “But why?”
    Mia shrugged. “He never told me. That is why I ran to your lands and not the village. I knew I would be safe here and if I didn’t make it back to my mother’s cottage at least someone who knew me would find me.”
    A knock on the door forced them to separate quickly. Mia missed the heat of his body against her and the comfort she’d felt there. She sat down in the nearest chair while Simon took his seat behind the desk.
    “Come in,” he said, once seated.
    Harris entered the room and bowed. “Mrs. Featherstone is here to see Miss Featherstone, my lord.”
    “Of course, send her in.”
     
    Simon smiled when he noticed the frown on Mia’s face. Mrs. Featherstone burst into the room like a gust of cold air, diminishing any remnants of the passion between Mia and Simon.
    “Good day, my lord,” she said as she spied the room with a critical eye. “Am I interrupting anything?”
    “Of course not. Miss Featherstone had come down to request my company on a stroll.”
    “Well, she certainly can’t walk the lands in those shoes.”
    Mia sighed. “I had planned on changing my shoes before leaving. I need a maid to assist me with—” She stopped abruptly as if realizing that stating she needed help from a servant in front of her mother would not be a good idea.
    “You still can’t bend down?” Mrs. Featherstone inquired as she approached her daughter.
    “It still hurts, that is all.”
    Simon watched the interplay and wondered why Mia seemed so tense around her mother. Mrs. Featherstone appeared to be only concerned about the welfare of her daughter.
    “Let’s go upstairs where I can examine you,” Mrs. Featherstone demanded.
    “Mrs. Featherstone, when you are finished, I would like a word,” Simon said as the