Not Another Nob (The Marriage Maker Book 32) by Annabelle Anders

Author:Annabelle Anders [Anders, Annabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scarsdale Publishing, Ltd
Published: 2019-08-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Guilty of Innocence

“Margaret Claire Dorrill! Open the door this instant!”

Claire winced and burrowed deeper beneath the covers. How had she thought this might be a good idea when Ben suggested it last night? Hearing the thunderous pounding and booming voice of her brother coming from the other side of her door, she suddenly wished she’d given thought to the full ramifications more thoroughly before agreeing.

“Are you ready?” his voice nudged her out of her cocoon. Far too cheerful for what they faced today.

When she opened her eyes, it was to gaze into the early morning face of Mr. Benjamin Peabody. His dear, poor face. The skin around those brilliant blue eyes had, indeed, turned a violent shade of purple. The flesh was swollen, as well, and all of that ought to have detracted from his appeal.

Instead, he merely appeared more roguishly handsome than ever.

“Damn it, Claire! Don’t make me break this door down!”

Claire swallowed hard.

Was she being rash?

Yes.

Insane?

Perhaps.

But she considered herself to be in love.

Of course, neither of them had verbally defined this powerful attraction between the two of them, but she’d seen it in his eyes. If she’d been thinking with a level head, she might have pressed him to profess his undying love. She might have insisted he express himself more eloquently.

But when he’d explained his idea to her. Well, his motivation couldn’t have been any clearer.

He wanted to marry her.

Since she’d been amenable to such a notion, it would have been foolish for her to play demure. They both knew their respective brothers would never endorse such an alliance. They needed to do something drastic. So, Ben had explained how they could easily make the issue of their feuding families a moot one.

In between a long series of tantalizing kisses, she’d had no thoughts of doing anything but agree.

It was as good as any proposal she’d ever heard of.

So now she lay in bed, with a man in her room, her brother threatening to break the door down, while Benjamin casually removed his shirt and climbed under the covers beside her.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she whispered.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Ben ruffled the bedclothes and blanket. Pounded a dent into the pillow, and then climbed back out of the bed. He partially unfastened his breeches and sauntered toward the locked door.

Barefoot.

She’d never noticed a man’s feet before. His were slim but appeared strong as he padded across the floor.

“Be careful!” she whispered. “And duck this time.”

Turning his head, he cocked that eyebrow she remembered from their first meeting. She thrilled at the steely determination in his eyes. Had they really only met yesterday? Even with purple swelling encircling his eyes, his appeal tugged at her insides.

“I’m not foolish enough to relish the thought of meeting your brother’s fist again.” He appeared casual, but like a panther or a tiger, she sensed his readiness. He quickly unlatched the lock on the door.

When the door came flying inward, Ben jumped back and moved at the perfect moment to avoid Ethan’s deadly fist.

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