Jenna Petersen

Author:Scandalous
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-03-20T21:14:48.046000+00:00

Katherine didn’t want to be the cause of any more strife between her husband and his best friend, and she was determined not to be. This supper would be pleasant and without controversy.

Of course, Dominic seemed to create controversy wherever he went, but she was going to do her damndest.

Her heart throbbed with nervousness as she approached Dominic’s office, where Matthews said the two men were having a drink. She didn’t know what to expect. Judging from the way she left them earlier, she could possibly find them at blows over what Adrian had or had not confided in her.

With caution, she tapped the door open and was surprised to be greeted by a roar. Not one of anger or frustration, but one of laughter. Both men leaned on the mantelpiece, bent over in loud, raucous laughter.

She’d never seen her husband look as he did at that moment. Certainly, he had laughed with her, but he’d never completely let down his guard. With Adrian, it was different. The caution was gone from his gray eyes, the worry. He seemed younger, more carefree, and utterly at peace, just for a flash of a moment.

She found herself wishing she could make him laugh like that. That he would trust her enough to be as open in her presence as he was in his friend’s.

Shaking away the thoughts of things she shouldn’t desire, she entered the room with a quiet clearing of her throat.

“I’m sorry to bother you, gentlemen,” she said with an apologetic nod of her head.

Dominic stopped laughing and turned to face her. Though his smile remained, the guard returned. She was foolishly disappointed.

“Kat,” he drawled. “You should have come earlier. Though some of Adrian’s tales probably weren’t fit for a lady’s ears.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “But supper is ready now and I would love to hear unladylike tales over our venison.”

Adrian barked out a laugh as he came to her side to offer her his arm. She took it without hesitation and let him lead her to the dining room. She threw only one glance over her shoulder at Dominic, who was following behind them with a grin warming his usually hard, handsome features.

With her heart throbbing, she took her seat and motioned for the servants to begin bringing their supper.

“I’m sure you and my husband have many tales I will never hear,” she teased with a wink for Dominic.

Adrian smiled. “Not too many, I assure you. Dominic and I were more often entangled in business than we were in pleasurable pursuits. Don’t let this man fool you. He isn’t the rogue he would lead you to believe.”

Her heart fluttered. Much of her continuing resistance to Dominic was based on an imagined reputation—on her acquired knowledge of rakes and her belief that they could never change. Was Adrian being genuine in his denial? Or was he only trying to make up for his earlier conversation with her?

Darting her gaze between the two men, she couldn’t be sure. Forcing a laugh, she said, “And here I thought I was reforming a rake.

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