Oh, Cherry Ripe

He turned when he felt her eyes bore through him and frowned. “What?”

“I see what it is. Some awful woman has hurt you very desperately.”

He made a motion with his hand, and his expression scoffed the idea, but his mind felt a rush of surprise. How could she know that? “Makes a nice tale, but I have never let a woman close enough to hurt me.”

“How sad,” she said with a long sigh.

He eyed her with a mischievous grin. “Why is that sad? Ah, for the women who have missed their chance?”

She laughed. “Nooo—that is not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?”

“I meant that you have a very cynical attitude about women, about love, and that is what is sad.”

“Is it? I rather think it is wise. Love often spoils what a man and woman could have together.”

“And what can they have without love?” she was surprised into asking.

He answered her in his fashion—with action. Once more she was drawn into his embrace, once more she heard his low murmur, and once more she felt her blood begin to make a hot, rushing target of her heart as he murmured, “Here, beauty, let me show you …”

His lips parted hers, nibbled at her lower lip, and seduced her mouth to open wide for his sensuous tongue until it was making love to hers. His hand moved from her waist and found her full breast. In shock, she pushed at him and sat away as she eyed him warily. She rebuked him quietly. “Please, Justin … do not.”

“No? Don’t you want me to kiss you?” he teased, flicking her nose with his forefinger in an easy, affectionate manner. “Because your body tells me otherwise.”

“Well, as to that, you do it so well and you are so very handsome that it would be very odd for me not to want you to kiss me. However, my body does not rule my head.”

He laughed out loud. He had never before encountered such a forthright-speaking chit. He took her chin between his fingers and told her, “I like you, Sarah Parker.” He then sighed. “But you are certainly a brat and one that is on the run … so very odd … this is all so very odd.”

She pulled away from his touch. “I am too old to be called a brat, and it is not odd. If men would only stop thinking women do not know what they want … things might improve.”

He laughed again. “A brat and yet too old to be single,” he retorted tauntingly.

A tease lit her face. “Is this a proposal, Justin? You know just because you kissed me doesn’t mean I expect you to marry me.”

He laughed at that and pulled her back into his arms. “Aye then, so I may safely kiss you again …” And he proceeded to do just that.

What was she doing? She asked herself that over and over again, but she knew. She was kissing a perfect stranger. She was embarking on a wild adventure … much like Lady Caroline, only she did not approve of Lady Caroline, and that made her frown. She sighed and pushed him away.

“Enough, sir.”

He sighed, but the drink had taken over and made him sleepy. He smiled, touched her cheek, and proceeded to fall asleep with his head in the corner.

~ Five ~

THE MORNING CAME blasting before Lady Elton’s hazel eyes. It was not the brightness of the day that sent her bolt upright in her bed. It was not the hot cocoa that burnt her tongue that sent her into a thither. It was the answer to the casual question she had put to her maid, “Is Cherry dear still in bed?”

“No, m’lady …” ventured Lady Elton’s maid, avoiding eye contact. She had not found Cheryl Elton in the house and had already, in fact, sent a lackey to the stables to inquire after her.

“No? Where is she then?” Lady Elton asked, feeling a twinge of something she could not then explain to herself.

“I am not certain, m’lady,” the maid returned, setting out her ladyship’s clothing for the morning.

“Are you not?” Lady Elton’s brow was up. She was aware that her dear Maria was overly fond of Cheryl and would ‘cover up’ for her if she could. “Indeed. Have Miss Cheryl attend me at once.”

“That I would, m’lady, if I could,” Maria primly answered,

her hands folding into themselves against her midriff.