Lady Alexandra's Lover (Sex and the Season #3) - Helen Hardt Page 0,38

his nose, and the touch of her skin a memory beneath his fingertips.

He shuffled some papers on his desk, looking for a particular file, when a knock sounded on the door.

“Yes?” he said.

“It’s Graves, my lord.”

“Yes, Graves, do come in.”

Graves entered with an envelope. “This was just delivered for you.” He laid the message on the desk.

“Thank you,” Evan said. “Tell me, what has been going on about the estate while I’ve been gone?”

“It has been quiet, my lord. We did have one caller.”

“And who was that?”

“Mr. Nathan Landon. He came to call upon Lady Alexandra.”

Jealousy stirred in Evan’s gut. Why was Nathan Landon hanging around Alexandra? Landon was a notorious skirt chaser. The peers put up with him because he was a cousin to the Duke of Lybrook. He wasn’t sure why Lybrook himself had allowed his wife’s cousin to associate with Landon, knowing the type of man he was. An astute businessman, yes, and nice enough—but Evan had seen Landon in many situations that even gentlemen of ill repute would not be seen in. Somehow, he had to steer Alexandra away from Landon. Keeping her out of London would be a good start, but what could he do about Landon coming to call?

In truth, he needed to resolve this problem at his printing business, but he could easily have one of his associates look into it. It was not a big enough issue to require his presence. God knew he wasn’t the first business owner to deal with the dregs of the city trying to use his business for their own gain. Still, it gave him an excuse to stay in Bath rather than travel to London for the remaining few weeks of the season. And that would keep Alexandra right here where she belonged.

“My lord?”

Evan jerked in his chair. He had quite forgotten that Graves still stood in front of him. “And anyone other than Mr. Landon?”

“No. As I said, it has been quiet.”

“Very well, then. You may go, Graves.”

The door had no sooner closed than Alexandra stormed in, her face red, her fists clenched, her beautiful lips trembling.

“We need to talk,” she said.

“I can’t imagine what about. Other than the fact that I’d appreciate a knock before you barge into my office.”

“You know damned well what we need to talk about. I am going to London. My friend is expecting me. And you promised to escort me to the end of the season balls.”

“Yes, I know that,” he said calmly. “However, as I said before, there is some unforeseen business that requires my attention.”

“Summon your brother. He should be spending his time here anyway. It will be his estate someday. Instead, he’s living it up in London, he and his intended. He should be here taking care of business while your father is out of the country. That is his responsibility, not yours. Why would any business keep you here? You’re nothing but a second son.”

The derision in her words sent an arrow through his heart. She truly did look down upon his station. “My brother is seeing to the estate while he’s in London, and he and his solicitor are due here in a little more than a week.” Evan’s hands shook. Though his legs ached to stand and thunder toward Alexandra, he glued his behind to the chair. “The business to which I’m referring is my own, not the estate’s.”

“What kind of business could you possibly have?”

“That is none of your concern.”

“It certainly is my concern if it’s keeping you from escorting us to London. However, it doesn’t need to be my concern. All you need to do is find someone suitable to take Sophie and me to London. And if you don’t, we will be going alone.”

Unable to hold himself in check any longer, Evan stood, walked around his desk, and grabbed Alexandra’s upper arm, gripping her tightly. “You will respect my authority, and you will not travel to London.”

“I will go to London,” she said.

Evan’s body tensed. His cock swelled and pulsed against his trousers. What she did to him! He had to have her.

“You will not!” He slammed his mouth down on hers.

He glided his tongue over the seam of her lips, probing for entrance. They remained tightly sealed. No problem there. He could wait. He nipped at her full lips slowly, suggestively, and then he sucked her lower lip between his own. Her lips had to have been forged by God himself, so perfect they were. And then, with a