Mistress by Mistake by Susan Gee Heino

Author:Susan Gee Heino [Heino, Susan Gee]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE HAT WAS PASSED AT LAST TO EVALINE. SO FAR, Dashford’s name had not been drawn. What were the chances she might avoid it?

Gingerly, as if even the man’s signature was dangerous for her, she reached into the hat, and her fingers fumbled around the few papers that were still left there. She selected one and was almost relieved that it did not burn her skin. With luck, her new partner would be Mr. Patterson or Mr. Carrington or anyone but Dashford. She’d even manage to survive a few more uncomfortable minutes sitting here beside Ellard rather than trade him in for Dashford. And that was saying a lot. Ellard Bristol was an ass.

She withdrew a paper, unfolded it slowly, and grimaced. Her heart pounded as she gradually raised her eyes, slowly looking up and meeting Dashford’s glance. He obviously recognized her expression, and his lips curled into a dark smile.

“Does your paper have a rather dramatically executed D?” he asked when she remained silent.

She nodded. He smiled more broadly, and her heart pounded all the more. Oh dear. She was expected to be his partner in a game on a blanket? This was really, truly not a good idea. She could think of nothing to say, so she mutely passed the hat along.

Claudia happily announced her new partner was her own father and blatantly turned her back on Dashford. Lady Dashford fluttered about with contagious excitement, giving instruction and encouraging the gentlemen to reposition themselves and start the game. Dashford was still smiling when he came to join Evaline on her blanket. She tried not to watch as his trousers hugged his various body parts when he sank down to sit beside her. She didn’t succeed very well. Their interrupted time in the grotto was all too vivid in her mind.

She couldn’t think straight. But how on earth was she to get through this with some sense of decorum when all her senses were filled with Dashford? He breathed her air, his suggestive eyes raked her body, his warm shoulder brushed against her as he lounged there, as comfortable on the floor as if they’d been at a proper dining table. She wished they were at a proper dining table. It was too easy to think of other things they could be doing spread out here on these darned pillows instead of playing Lady Dashford’s game and helping him redeem himself in Claudia’s eyes.

“Now,” Lady Dashford was explaining, “gentlemen, you must each ask three questions of your partner. When time is up, you gentlemen will all switch to the next blanket for a new partner. Remember, gentlemen, take care to ask only the three questions you most would like an answer to.”

Dashford leaned in toward Evaline. “Is she serious?”

Heavens, but his voice made her think of things she had no business thinking. “Perhaps she doesn’t know you very well.”

“Oh, she knows me. I just can’t believe she’d give me carte blanche like this.”

“She probably expected you to be sitting with Claudia.

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