The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

“I confronted the men you had following me and demanded they take me to you immediately.” She wandered over to the balcony and briefly glanced down below. Livie could never quite understand a man’s preoccupation with blood sports and betting on them.

“Of course you did,” he said, with his lips twitching slightly at the corners. “How did you know they were my men, though?”

“I recognized one of them from your office, and normally I wouldn’t have bothered you at such an event,” she said, turning back to face him. “However, I had to speak with you.”

“Desperate to see me again so soon? I would have thought after our early morning adventure in the Rookeries the other day, you would have not been at all keen to come traipsing back into them so soon. Although maybe you wanted another kiss?”

He took a step closer to her, and she felt her breath quicken and had to tilt her head up to maintain eye contact. “Don’t flatter yourself. It was a passable kiss, but not something I’d chase you for.” She was lying, of course. But hopefully he wouldn’t be able to tell. The less he knew how he affected her, the better.

“Passable?” The half grin on his face suggested he didn’t believe her. “How remiss of me. Perhaps I shall have to kiss you again, this time more thoroughly, to change your opinion?”

“Or perhaps not.” The very thought of his lips against hers was sending a shaft of warmth to her belly. And she really didn’t know how much more thoroughly one could be kissed.

“Spoilsport,” he whispered, bending his head down to her ear, the soft whisper of his breath brushing across her neck. “For I have been unable to think of little else except that kiss all damn day. But rest assured I won’t kiss you again until you tell me you want me to. Which you will.”

He pulled away from her and she suddenly felt unaccountably disappointed, but then the arrogance of his words sunk in.

“Will I just?” She twisted away and looked down from the balcony to regroup her thoughts, the silk skirts of her black dress swishing with the movement.

“Yes, you will.” His voice sounded husky.

Glancing back, she saw him staring at her hips before his eyes traveled briefly up to her neckline and the soft swell of her bosom, which her corset was pushing up against her décolletage. But then he swiftly turned his head away, and she saw him clench his jaw.

There was desire in his eyes before he’d turned away, but then her self-doubt creeped in and she wondered if perhaps she’d only imagined such a thing. Because, really, how could any man look upon her with desire while she walked with a limp and cane?

The realization was disheartening. Not that it should matter whether he desired her or not, but it did. Shaking her head free from the depressing thoughts, Livie reminded herself of why she was here in the first place. Alice.

“I heard the release of your teaser pamphlet has been met with great success,” Sebastian said over his shoulder.

“It has indeed,” she agreed. “Apparently it is all anyone could talk of yesterday at the Barrington ball. Your investment will be a great success, as I told you it would.”

“I wouldn’t have invested my money if I had thought otherwise.” Sebastian slowly turned back to face her. “I must say I’ve never seen the gentlemen at Tartus so damn scared before. Some were literally sweating in their seats at the prospect of being named. It was bloody entertaining to watch.”

Livie grinned. “It was just the reaction I was hoping the teaser would elicit. And now, with your funds, we shall be on schedule to release the first edition in a fortnight.”

“And vengeance will then be yours, my lady.” Sebastian returned her grin.

For a moment, she was mesmerized by his smile. He looked so darn handsome and so wicked at the same time. But wicked in a thrilling way. So thrilling that it sent her pulse galloping.

Focus, Livie. Focus.

“Vengeance will be mine only when I discover who it was who ruined Alice.” She had to get her mind back on what was important—finding Alice’s seducer and making him pay for the devastation he caused.

Chapter Seventeen

Lady Olivia was staring at him with such intense scrutiny that her eyes swam with the deepest azure blue he’d ever seen. In the full light of day, the woman was too entrancing by far and altogether too delectable to ignore.

He felt every inch of his body become alert, much like when he was on a hunt and had caught sight of his prey. An almost instinctual need came upon him to claim her as his. Especially when she’d all but thrown that challenge in his face, of his kiss being “passable.” Seb had never wanted anything more than right at that moment to sweep her up in his arms and cart her off into his carriage and back to his residence and bedchamber.

So clearly could he envisage himself laying her upon the silky blue of his bedsheets and possessing her until she was his and his alone that he had to wrestle with himself to not do just that.

Goddamnit! The woman was making him insane. There was no other rational explanation for his irrational and primitive thoughts. And Seb hated nothing more than to be irrational and primitive. Such behavior reminded him of his childhood and what he’d had to do to stay alive.

He cleared his throat and walked over next to where she stood, then leaned back against the balustrade of the balcony and crossed his hands over his chest. “So? What is it you desperately had to talk with me about?”

A huge grin spread over her lips. “I know the identity of the anonymous note sender from the other night!” There was such earnest enthusiasm in her voice that for a moment Seb was fascinated and quite forgot what she said.

It took him