The Bareknuckle Groom - Holly Bush Page 0,25

Muireall, would glare, but that doesn’t stop the occasional, ‘You were finished,’ said after stabbing something off your neighbor’s plate. Payden is famous for it, but then he’s a growing boy. Even Kirsty, every once in a while.”

She looked at him so wistfully that he wanted to take her in his arms and promise that he would make everything right for her.

“I would have to be on my guard, then,” she said and looked at him directly. “If I was ever invited to dine with your family.”

He nearly groaned aloud. What was it about this woman that made every one of his emotions, especially the ones tightly bottled, bubble up when he was in her company? He stared back at her and cleared his throat.

“Have a bite. Go ahead.” She looked at him as if he were asking much more than what he was, but she eyed the sandwich, looked around at the passersby, and took it out of his hands. She took a small bite and closed her eyes, those long pale lashes fluttering against her cheeks.

“That is delicious,” she said.

“Have another bite, if you want,” he said in a low, throaty voice. She did and stared at him over the top of his sandwich. She handed it back, and he took a large bite.

“Why did you look at me like you did when I said you were overconfident?” she asked.

He swallowed. “What do you mean?”

She smiled and looked away, watching people walk by. She took the last sip of her lemonade and gathered the strings of her purse, as if preparing to stand up. She looked at him.

“Thank you, Mr. . . .”

“My brother-in-law came to me with a plan his father and a relative had for opening a boxing arena. They wanted to know if I would put my name on it and manage it, maybe even buy it in a few years.”

“That sounds promising,” she said and looked at his profile. He had put down his sandwich on the bench and was bent over where he sat, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped in front of him, staring out into the crowd of people walking by. “But you are not pleased.”

He did not turn his head. “They think I’m washed up. That my boxing days are done. MacAvoy thinks I’m going to end up pouring beer at a seedy tavern when I can’t box anymore.”

He was in a pique, she was certain, even though he’d not raised his voice or displayed any other masculine contrivance. She would have smiled at his behavior, but she did not think it was the right thing to do. “Who is ‘they,’ and who is MacAvoy?”

“Alexander, my sister Elspeth’s husband, and his father and uncle. MacAvoy. My best friend since we moved here from Scotland. My closest friend. Used to be my closest friend. Now there’s a woman telling him what to do and how to think.”

She smiled then. She couldn’t help it, although he was still staring straight ahead. “They told you that you were washed up?”

“No.” He finally looked at her. “They didn’t have to. Why else would they want me to lend my name to this thing of theirs?”

“Perhaps they thought you were very intelligent and skilled with people. You’ve got experience in your family’s business. Maybe they see a winning horse and want to bet on him.”

He swallowed visibly, and she could barely tear her eyes away from the muscles working in his neck, his skin tan and taut.

“Most people think I box because I’m too dumb to do anything other than let men punch me like a sawdust-filled bag.”

She stared at him, knowing he was in pain, knowing he was unsure of himself and hurting. “I think you are—”

“James! James! You will not believe what I’ve bought! But of course you will believe it! What a ridiculous thing for me to say!”

James stood and smiled at his sister, nodding to Aunt Louisa behind her. “Thank you, ma’am, for accompanying her to the dressmakers. It saved me from doing so.”

“Kirsty is a delight, Mr. Thompson,” Aunt said. “I enjoyed her enthusiasm.”

“She helped me pick out a dress for Elspeth’s dinner. Oh! Oh yes! I must talk to my sister immediately and make sure you are both invited,” Kirsty said hurriedly. “Come, James. Take me to Elspeth’s right away. It was so wonderful meeting you both!”

Kirsty smiled at Lucinda and Aunt Louisa and tugged on her brother’s arm. He shook his head and looked at her