A Touch of Scarlet by Renee Ryan

Author:Renee Ryan [Ryan, Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503938663
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Published: 2017-01-24T06:00:00+00:00

Luke ignored the irritation in his tone, the thickness in his throat. What he could not ignore was his panic. Elizabeth had begun making her way down her list—on her own, without him—and she was already on number five. He’d read far enough down the page to know what came next.

Ask a man to dance.

There was a ball scheduled next week at the Waldorf-Astoria, thrown by family friends in honor of Penelope’s engagement. Elizabeth would surely be there. Luke could hardly contain his dread. If she approached the wrong man . . .

The thought didn’t require finishing to send his gut tossing.

Elizabeth was more stubborn than he’d imagined. She was also delusional if she thought he would allow her to continue ticking off items as if there were no consequences for her actions. There were always consequences.

“Explain yourself.” The words sounded imperious even to his ears. He didn’t care. He had to get through to her. Someway, somehow, he had to appeal to her sense of reason.

“Though I owe you no explanation, as you have surely ascertained, I am playing poker.” She said this in an entirely rational tone.

A very irrational emotion slammed through him hard and fast. “What game did you say you were playing?”

“Poker.”

He felt his eyes widen.

“No, that’s not quite accurate.” She lifted her chin, the blue world of her eyes full of defiance. “My cousin was teaching me how to cheat at poker.”

Luke had forgotten the other woman in the room. At the reminder, he rounded on Caroline. “Why would you do such a thing?”

“She asked.”

The soft chuckle coming from the man at his side had Luke glaring at his friend. He unclenched his jaw long enough to say, “You approve of this?”

“I don’t disapprove.” Jackson chuckled again. “It’s not as if Elizabeth is planning to embark on a life of crime.”

“That remains to be seen,” he muttered under his breath. Having failed to read through the entirety of her list, Luke had no idea what the obstinate woman had planned. For all he knew, she could have included countless unlawful activities.

Probably, she hadn’t; this was Elizabeth after all. But the possibility was there.

In that moment, his apprehension was overwhelmed with a primal need to wrap her in his arms and protect her from the world, from herself. From him, and men like him who would prey on such innocence.

He looked at her again and caught his breath at the eyes staring back at him. They were huge in her face, and slightly worried. Good. She should be worried.

“This madness has to stop.” He did not give her a chance to reply. His next words rode along on a rush of irritation. “I want your promise, and I want it now.”

Her eyes narrowed, her expression ripening with defiance. Under different circumstances, Luke might find her backbone admirable. She looked stunning in that moment, her righteous indignation coloring the delicate, sculpted bones of her cheeks.

Luke lost his train of thought. He knew he had a point to make.

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