One Night for Seduction by Erica Ridley

Author:Erica Ridley [Ridley, Erica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-943794-29-4
Publisher: Erica Ridley

Chapter 10

Cole awoke with the taste of Miss Middleton’s kiss still haunting his lips. He dressed, broke his fast, attempted to concentrate on the morning paper. But it was no use. His brain could focus on nothing but the delicious memory of last night’s stolen moment.

He should not have kissed her. If he’d possessed the least suspicion that she would welcome, rather than spurn, such reckless behavior, perhaps he would not have… oh, who was he bamming? Cole rubbed a hand over his face and sighed.

If he’d believed she intended to kiss him back, he would only have kissed her all the sooner.

Even in the harsh light of day, he could not bring himself to be sorry he had done so. If her cousin had not spoiled the moment, Cole would happily still be in the library right now, his arms about Miss Middleton’s warm curves and his mouth enjoying hers. The last thing on his mind had been stopping.

It wouldn’t do, of course. The terms of the wager required him to match Miss Middleton with some other gentleman. A love match, he’d boldly assured her guardian. Right after agreeing not to publicly influence the outcome by feigning interest in order to manipulate other gentlemen’s perceptions.

The kiss had not been public.

Nor had it been feigned.

Cole could not allow such a lapse in judgment to repeat. What the devil had he been thinking?

That she was beautiful and maddening and clever. That moments with her were completely unpredictable. That he could not live another moment without knowing the taste of her lips.

“Imbecile,” he muttered.

Something had to be done. He summoned his carriage and directed the coachman toward the Wicked Duke. The tavern would not open for a few more hours, but the familiar drive might help to clear his head.

The sooner he found a worthy match for Miss Middleton, the sooner he could have done with the wager and put all of his attention toward Parliament.

Being chosen to replace Lord Fortescue as committee leader required far more than luck. He needed to be a viable candidate. Strategic and clever, conservative and steady. The sort of man who would not embroil himself in embarrassing scandal. Such as stealing kisses from a woman he had no intention to wed.

There. That put paid to the matter. Cole would not be on the hunt for a bride until the following year, at the earliest, which meant absolutely no roguery with proper young ladies until he was prepared to marry one.

“Wicked Duke,” called his driver as he pulled the horses to a stop. “Where to now?”

Cole exchanged a crooked grin with the coachman. This was far from the first drive they’d taken without any particular destination in mind.

“Home, please.”

Within seconds, the horses were once again on the move.

Often when Cole needed to think, watching London trundle by did him a world more good than staring at the walls of his study. Particularly if he was ruminating a matter for Parliament. Putting eyes on the very people he was trying to serve kept his focus sharp.

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