"Such as?"
She'd taken hold of his hand and was holding it against her waist. Caine didn't think she was aware of
her action. It was just an instinctive attempt to give him comfort, he guessed, and he found he didn't dislike the touch or her motive.
"You were explaining how your papa helped the poor," she reminded him.
"Yes," Caine returned. "He was responsible for defeating the tax increase, for one example."
"But he quit these important duties?"
"He quit everything," Caine said. "His politics, his family, his friends, his clubs. He doesn't even read
the dailies now. He just stays locked inside his study and broods. I believe, once Pagan has been punished, that my father might… hell, I don't know. He's such a defeated man now."
"Are you like your father? Are you also a champion of the poor? I believe you must be a protector by nature."
"Why do you say that?"
She couldn't very well tell him she'd read his file. "Because of the way you took me under your wing," she answered. "And I think you would have offered your help to any defenseless, poor person. Of
course, I wasn't poor when I met you."
"Are you going to start in about the silver coins again?"
Because he was smiling at her, she knew he wasn't irritated with her. "No, I'm not going to start in, whatever that's suppose to mean. I was just reminding you. You are like your father then, aren't you?"
"I suppose we share that trait."
"Yet your father retreated from the world while you immediately went after vengeance. Your reactions were just the opposite, weren't they?"
"Yes."
"I understand why your father gave up."
"You do?"
"It's because fathers aren't supposed to lose their sons, Caine."
"No," Caine agreed. "They should die first."
"After a long, happy life, of course," she added.
She sounded so sincere, he didn't want to argue with her. "Of course."
"And you're absolutely certain it was Pagan who killed Colin?"
"I am. I have it on high authority."
"How?"
"How, what?"
"How did Pagan kill him?"
"For God's sake, Jade," he muttered. "I don't want to talk about this. I've already told you more than
I intended."
"I'm sorry if I've upset you," she replied. She leaned away from him and looked into Ms eyes.
The worry in her expression made him feel guilty for his biting tone. "Colin was killed at sea."
"Yet someone was thoughtful enough to bring him home for burial?"
"No."
"No? Then how can you know if he's really dead? He could have washed up on a deserted island,
or possibly…,"
"Proof was sent."
"What proof? And who sent it?"
He couldn't understand her interest in this topic and determined to end the conversation. "Proof came from the War Department. Now will you quit your questions?"
"Yes, of course," she whispered. "Please accept my apology for intruding upon such a personal matter."
She let out a yawn, then begged his forgiveness for that unladylike action.
"Caine? We can't stay here long. I fear we would be putting your friends in danger."
"I agree," he answered. "We'll only stay one night."
He stared into the fire while he formulated his plans. Jade snuggled up against him and fell asleep. He
told himself he was thankful for the blessed quiet. Yet he resisted the urge to go up to bed, for he liked holding the impossible woman in his arms too much to move.
He kissed her brow just for the hell of it, then kissed her once again.
Only when the fire had burned down to glowing embers and a decided chill settled in the room did he finally get up.
She came awake with a start. Jade jumped to her feet, but was so disoriented, she started walking in the wrong direction. She would have walked right into the hearth if he hadn't stopped her. He tried to lift her into his arms. She pushed his hands away. He let out a sigh, then put his ami around her shoulders and guided her up the stairs. He kept trying not to think about how lovely she looked now. Her hair was almost dry and had regained its enchanting curls. He also tried not to think about the fact that she was wearing only a thin nightgown and wrapper.
He opened the bedroom door for her, then turned to find his own.
"Caine?" she called out, her voice a sleepy whisper. "You won't leave me, will you?"
He turned back to face her. The question was insulting, yet the fearful look in her eyes softened his
initial reaction. "No, I won't leave you."
She nodded, looked like she was about to say something more, and then abruptly shut the door in his face.
Christina had prepared the adjoining bedroom for Caine. The bed covers on the large bed had been
turned back, and a full fire blazed in the hearth.
As inviting as the bed was, sleep still eluded Caine. He tossed and turned in the giant bed for almost an hour, all the while damning himself for his own lack of discipline. Yet no matter how valiantly he tried,
he couldn't get the red-haired, green-eyed enchantress out of his mind.
He couldn't understand his own reaction to her. Hell, he wanted her with an intensity that made him burn. That didn't make any sense at all to him. He disliked bad-tempered, illogical, cry-at-the-sight-of-a-frown young ladies, didn't he?
He was simply too exhausted to think straight now. He wasn't used to being restrained either. Caine was
a man who took what he wanted when he wanted it. He'd gone soft over the last few years, though. He didn't have to bother with the chase any longer. The women always came to him. They gave themselves freely. Caine took what each offered without feeling a qualm of remorse. He was always honest with his women, and he never, ever spent a full night with any of them. Mornings, he knew, would bring false hopes and foolish demands.
Yet he wanted Jade. Lord, he wasn't making any sense. Jade's sneeze echoed in the distance then. Caine immediately got out of bed. He put on his pants but didn't bother with the buttons. He now had an excuse to go into her room. She probably needed another blanket, he told himself. The night air had a chill to it. There was also the possibility of a fire, for the light coming from beneath the door indicated she'd fallen asleep with the candles burning.
He wasn't at all prepared for the sight he came upon. Jade was sleeping on her stomach. Her glorious hair was spread like a shawl on her back. Her face was turned toward him. Her eyes were closed, and her deep, even breathing indicated she was fast asleep.
His enchantress was stark naked. She'd taken off her nightgown and placed it on the chair beside the bed. She'd also kicked the covers off the bed.
The little lady had a decidedly sensual streak hidden inside her, if she preferred sleeping in the nude, as