The Hellion and The Heartbreaker (9 page)

She supposed it might seem odd, but she loved Grey Oaks so
much that she had never had the slightest desire to leave.  Besides, her
brothers had always been overly protective of her.  She knew that they
liked keeping her safe and sound at home.  But alas the time had finally
come for her to venture out, for she wasn’t a child any longer.  “I’ll be
going for the beginning of the winter Season.”

“Your first foray into Society.  You must be excited.”

“I suppose so,” she replied, with a slight shrug.  “To
be honest, I’m a bit nervous.”  Though she didn’t really give a fig for
Society, or her upcoming position within it, the last thing she wanted to do
was to disappoint or embarrass Georgie or her brothers, especially considering
all of the time she had dedicated to transforming herself into a proper young
lady. 

Alec noted the uncertainty in her expression and sought to
reassure her, surprised that she could have even the slightest doubt about her
inevitable success.  The members of the ton would be tripping over
themselves to garner the affection of someone as extraordinary as Scarlett
McPhearson.  “You have absolutely nothing to worry about Scarlett. 
You are going to take London by storm, I guarantee it.”  The truth of his
words was slightly disheartening.  Surprisingly, the thought of Scarlett,
caught up in the midst of the
ton’s
superciliousness was almost painful to imagine, but he didn’t let it
show.  His expression reflected only total confidence and sincerity, and
Scarlett smiled in return.  “Just don’t go kicking anyone in the shin and
you’ll be fine,” he couldn’t resist teasing.

“I have learned my lesson, I promise,” she assured him, with
a gentle laugh.

They spent a few more minutes enjoying the picturesque
setting, before Alec suggested they start back.

Scarlett would have preferred to keep him all to herself for
a while longer, but she knew that her brothers would be up soon and wondering
where they had gotten off too.  In addition, her toes were beginning to
feel the cold, and surely Alec’s were as well.  So with one last appreciative
glance at the steam shrouded pools, they turned the horses back toward the
direction they’d come.  In spite of her cold toes, she chose a different,
slightly longer route back to the stables, wanting to savor every last moment
alone with Alec.

The more time he spent with her, the more Alec was amazed at
how much he truly enjoyed Scarlett’s company.  It brought back memories of
the last time he’d seen her.  She had been just a child of course, but he
recalled that he had enjoyed her company even then.  The majority of young
women he had spent any length of time conversing with, had more often than not
turned out to be exceedingly dull and woefully predictable.  Scarlett was
not only unconventional, but she was witty, entertaining and remarkably bright
as well.
 
Although a few women had piqued
more than his sexual interest in the past, there weren’t many.  Scarlett
was a refreshing change of pace. 

Unfortunately however, there was one thing about Scarlett that
was all too familiar, and that was the way she looked at him.  He had been
the object of those looks since his youth, and he knew them well.  There
was no mistaking that Scarlett’s interest in him went beyond friendship, and
despite the desire to do just the opposite, he knew better than to encourage
her.  He was a little surprised at how very disappointing the thought of
that was.  How ironic he mused, that he could have any woman he wanted,
and to be honest he had, but now the one he wanted more than any other he’d had
before was hopelessly out of his reach. 

When they arrived back at the stable, they encountered an
older gentleman with a balding pate and a friendly smile, just exiting the
building.    

“Good morning, Mr. Dutton,” Scarlett greeted him cheerfully.

“Mornin’ Miss,” he said, returning her pleasant
greeting.  “I noticed the empty stalls.  I should ‘ave known it was
you up and about this early in the mornin.” 

His wrinkled face and what was left of his snowy white hair,
reflected his advanced years, but he was still hale and hearty and one of the
hardest workers at Grey Oaks.  Scarlett had known him since she was an
infant.  “Mr. Dutton, this is His Grace, the Duke of Worthe,” she said,
gesturing toward Alec.  “Mr. Dutton is one of Grey Oaks’ most valued
assets,” she told Alec, with utmost sincerity.

Mr. Dutton’s chin rose up just a tad, exhibiting his pride at
the compliment.  With a slight bow, he addressed Alec.  “It’s an
honor to meet you, Your Grace.”

“And you, Mr. Dutton.”

“Shall I take the horses, Miss?”

“You most certainly will not,” Scarlett told him
firmly.  “His Grace and I are perfectly capable of tending to our own
mounts.”  Glancing toward Alec, she was pleased to see his nod of
agreement.  “You go and enjoy the day with your family, and please tell
Mrs. Dutton how much I enjoyed the wonderful pumpkin bread she sent over the
other day.”

The aged groom obviously knew there was no sense in arguing
with her.  “Thank you, Miss.  I’ll be sure t’pass the message on t’my
wife.”  With a polite nod, he left Scarlett and Alec to their own devices.

As they dismounted, Alec remarked on her kindness to the
older man.  Most people of his acquaintance wouldn’t think twice about
inconveniencing a servant.  Scarlett seemed genuinely surprised however,
that he would think she would have done anything else.  Once again, he was
reminded that she wasn’t just another one of the pampered and spoiled young
women he so often encountered.  It was a refreshing change, and if
possible his admiration of her grew even more.

“Thank you for letting me ride Brutus,” she told him, as she
removed her saddle from the huge horse. 

“It was my pleasure,” Alec assured her.  He watched,
somewhat bemused, as she led the stallion into his stall.  His
high-spirited mount had been as docile as a lamb for Scarlett.  Shaking
his head, he led Rory’s mount into his stall and began rubbing him down. 
He could hear Scarlett talking sweetly to Brutus a few stalls down.  He
envisioned her running her hands along the horse’s smooth coat and couldn’t
help wondering what would it be like to feel her hands upon his own skin, and
then cursed himself for the traitorous thought.  Damn, he needed to be
careful he reminded himself, extremely careful where Scarlett McPhearson was
concerned.

Once Rory’s horse had been taken care of, Alec walked over to
Brutus’ stall.  Scarlett stood outside the closed gate, feeding Brutus a
handful of oats from her bare hand.  She turned at his approach.

“I had a wonderful time, Alec.”  Scarlett told him, scarcely
able to keep the exaltation from her voice.  “Can we ride again tomorrow?”

The look of hopeful anticipation on her face was impossible
to deny.  “If you would like.” 

Scarlett beamed. 

Would he ever get used to that dazzling smile, he wondered?

Scarlett knew she had only a few more minutes left with Alec
before they returned to the awakening household, and she didn’t want it to
end.  They stood alone in the quiet stable, only a few feet apart, but
suddenly it felt like a mile.  She wanted to reach out and touch him more
than anything in the world.  The sudden longing was unfamiliar, but also
fierce and undeniable. 

Do something, before it’s too late, her inner voice
commanded.  Her mind raced as a dozen different notions flitted through
her thoughts.  Suddenly she had an idea, something Bethany had done once
before when she’d fancied one of the young stable hands.  But did she have
the nerve to do it herself?  Her pulse quickened and before she could put
too much thought into it, she looked past Alec and gave a small shriek. 
Launching herself at him, she pressed her body fully against his in feigned
alarm, her hands tightly gripping the front of his coat.

Instinctively, Alec’s arms went around Scarlett as she
hurtled into him.  Pulling her close, he turned to see what had frightened
her.  Scanning the area, he saw nothing untoward and quickly turned back
around, looking questioningly upon her upturned face.

“A mouse,” she said, pointing a finger toward a shadowy
corner, the folds of his coat still held firmly in her grasp.

Alec looked to where she was pointing.  “I don’t see
anything.”

Scarlett continued to cling to him, savoring the feel of
being held in his arms, despite their heavy winter clothing.  “Are you
certain?” she asked, trying to appear frightened and apprehensive.

Alex turned his gaze back to Scarlett and suddenly became
aware of just how tightly her body was pressed against his own.  How easy
it would be to dip his head and capture the sweet fullness of her lips, he
noticed.  “For someone who practically grew up in a stable, I’m surprised
that you would be frightened by the sight of a mouse,” he teased softly,
fighting against the treacherous thoughts that swirled within his head.

“Silly isn’t it?” she replied breathlessly.

“Well I think it’s gone.  Are you alright now?” he
murmured.

Scarlett didn’t respond, the words lodging in her throat as
she relished in Alec’s nearness.  Their faces were only inches
apart.  Their eyes locked and held for an endless moment.  She parted
her lips just the tiniest bit and Alec’s teasing smile faded.  She
beckoned him with her eyes.

Alec’s sanity fled.  As if without conscious thought, he
lowered his head and brushed his lips softly against Scarlett’s.  She
returned the kiss without hesitation, and when his lips became more demanding,
she responded in kind.  Before he knew it, he was lost.

Though she was a novice, the kiss felt so natural, so
right.  She opened her mouth at his gentle coaxing, her knees nearly
buckling as his tongue traced the delicate curve of her lips and then moved to
plunder the softness within.  She was stunned at how much she liked the
shockingly intimate caress.  Of their own accord, her hands traveled
upward, her fingers delving into the thick, dark hair at the base of his neck
as she crushed her body against his.  Boldly she touched her tongue to
his.  Alec’s muffled groan of satisfaction was like an aphrodisiac. 
Apparently she was doing something right.  The kiss deepened and Scarlett
wanted it to last forever.

Alec mentally cursed the thick barrier of their clothing as
Scarlett crushed her body against his own.  Though warning bells rang in
his head, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from drawing her even closer. 
Despite the danger, the physical attraction he felt toward Scarlett was so
intense and overpowering that it was impossible to suppress.  Her
enthusiastic response to his kiss was perilous to a man unaccustomed to denying
his physical desires.  He attracted women like a loadstone, he always had,
and self-denial wasn’t his strongest attribute.  He knew he should stop,
before things went too far.  He had to stop now.  He didn’t. 
Tangling his fingers in her long tresses, he ravaged her tender lips like a man
possessed.

Scarlett’s senses were reeling as Alec kissed her into a
near-mindless state of euphoria.  She felt like she was in a dream, but
astonishingly, the reality was even better than the most amazing dream she’d
ever had.  Thus, she was totally unprepared when he suddenly stopped
kissing her and abruptly broke away.  She opened her passion-glazed eyes,
blinking in confusion as Alec took a step back.  Her hands fell to her
sides as her head slowly began to clear.  In dismay, she noted the
disgruntled look on his face.

Dragging his lips from the sweetness of Scarlett’s mouth was
one of the hardest things he had ever done, but with the last bit of sanity he
possessed, he’d done it.  “We can’t do this Scarlett,” he said, his
breathing heavy and ragged.

“Why not?”  Scarlett asked breathlessly, struggling to
regain her senses.

 “My darling Scarlett, you are desirable beyond words,”
he avowed with complete sincerity, “but I am not presently in the market for a
wife.”  When Scarlett merely blinked at him in confusion, he lightly
grasped her chin, brushing his thumb across her smooth jawline.  “You are
not only a lady, but Colin’s sister, and unless my intentions are anything
other than honorable,
you
are off limits to me my lovely lass.”

As Scarlett’s thoughts began to clear, she tried to make
sense of what Alec had just said.  It took only a moment for her to
realize that despite his reputation as a rake, Alec Weston clearly was not
without morals.   She wasn’t surprised, for she had suspected as
much, but if possible the unmistakable confirmation made him even
more
appealing. 
Unfortunately, it also made things a great deal more difficult.  How could
she expect to garner Alec’s affection if he wasn’t ready for marriage, and she
was otherwise untouchable?  She could hardly expect him to fall madly in love
with her after one kiss she realized, her thoughts spinning in a crazy whirl as
his thumb drifted across the smooth plain of her cheek, his expression
apologetic and resolved.  

As Alec moved to pull his hand away, Scarlett reached up to
forestall the movement, covering his hand with her own.  In that instant,
she realized that she would do just about anything to make him hers.  The
astounding pleasure of his kisses had only reinforced the certainty that Alec
Weston was the only man for her.  Instinctively, she knew no other man
would ever have the ability to affect her as Alec did.  Now, more than
ever, she wanted to be the one to tame his licentious ways, to be the woman to
capture his defiant heart.  She hesitated for only a moment before she
spoke.  “And if
my
intentions aren’t honorable?”  She
surprised even herself with the boldness of her question, but met him squarely
in the eye nonetheless.  She wasn’t giving in without a fight.