Free Heaven Scent by SpursFanatic Page A

soon…”
    Glancing up, Tarin straightened as she
watched the Sutherland coach stop in front of the hall. Climbing
down from the seat, Rafe went around to the door of the polished,
mahogany cab. Isabel emerged from the interior, looking fresh and
beautiful in a periwinkle day dress and straw bonnet. Rafe grinned
down at her, his smile wide and endearing.
    Tarin’s heart sped up, her nerves
jumping despite her will. Why did such a pompous, arrogant man
affect her so?
    “Have you ever seen a man like that?”
Kitty quizzed. “His manner of dress is most improper.”
    Tarin smiled to herself. It was not
that Rafe dressed improperly, really, for he wore clothing like any
other man. The absence of a cravat seemed a bit uncouth, but on
Rafe it suited him.
    Tarin assumed what Kitty
found improper was Rafe’s physique. The wide shoulders and slim
hips were completely distracting in clothing that fit to
perfection. A lady could not walk past without at least one
very un ladylike
glance.
    Once again, Tarin found herself staring
at his fine backside, despite her good manners. She cursed
herself.
    “Why, it’s downright indecent,” Kitty
stated, as she tilted her head to the side.
    “And his hair,” she continued, as Rafe
spoke with his mother. “Why it’s unfashionably long - and
unkempt.”
    Kitty sighed. “Do you think he will
stop by the table?”
    Tarin started in her
seat. Heavens, no .
She had spent the last several hours trying to forget that divine
kiss of his, and had made good progress. To subject herself to his
arrogant grin and fiendishly good looks would take her back to
square one.
    “You’re terrible, Kitty,” Tarin
admonished. “What will you do – toss out your bonnet and say the
wind carried it?”
    Kitty sat up in her seat. “Good idea.”
She patted Tarin on the arm.
    “That is Rafe Sutherland and his
mother, Isabel.” Kitty’s social status did not allow her to be a
member of the Brahmin so Tarin filled her in on news of the high
society circle.
    “The man Zachary Taylor deemed a
hero?”
    Tarin nodded. “One and the
same.”
    “How splendid,” Kitty added, clapping
her hands together. “I do hope he comes this way.” Squinting in his
direction, she added, “I’ve heard he has terrible
scars.”
    “They are not so bad. He is handsome
despite them.” Squeezing her eyes shut, Tarin mentally kicked
herself as soon as the words left her mouth.
    Kitty‘s head whipped around as though
her neck had been snapped. “Oh, really?” She stared at Tarin with
raised brows. “I had all but given up hope you even knew another
sex existed in our species.”
    “Tease me if you must, but that man,”
Tarin lowered her voice to a whisper, “sneaked me into the men’s
seminar last night.”
    Kitty nearly broke Tarin’s arm, she
gripped it so tight. “He did not!”
    Tarin smiled. “He did.” All
that, and she got
a heavenly kiss in the bargain.
    “You asked him to help you?”
    Shaking her head, Tarin looked down at
her lap. “No, Kit, he followed me without my knowledge. He feared
for my safety.”
    “And I can’t blame him,” she huffed. “I
have warned you about roaming the streets at night.”
    Tarin glanced up from her lap when
Kitty loosened the grip on her arm.
    “A man who cares enough for your safety
to follow you, then indulges your desire for access to the seminar,
must be a gem indeed.”
    Tarin refused to acknowledge that
comment. It was easier to think Rafe Sutherland a cad.
    “Look,” Kitty said under her breath,
“he sees you.”
    Tarin glanced up to see Rafe staring at
them from across the way. His eyes searched her face as though he
gauged whether to approach.
    Please, Lord, no.
    “Don’t look, but here comes Mr.
Pensworthy,” Kitty whined.
    Thank heavens for that
cantankerous, old chauvinist . Maybe now Rafe will go away .
    Kitty groaned. “Heavens above, I wish
that man would find something to do with his time besides aggravate
us every single day we are out