What A Rogue Wants Read Free Page A

one piece of art that’s worth your
seeing.”
    At that, Gravenhurst started guffawing
but stopped promptly when the brunette lady glared him into ashes.
The woman’s obvious protective instinct over her friend was
admirable, even if he didn’t like her interference.
    “ I won’t be seeing your
art, but I will take your money,” the blond-haired chit replied
before turning away, raising her arrow and saying in a loud,
confident voice, “I’m ready.”
    Romany and his cronies immediately
called for last wagers, collected the money, and then a hush fell
over the crowd.
    Grey moved so he could see the woman’s
face. He was rewarded for his effort. An adorable crease appeared
on her forehead as she pulled the bow back with a creak. Her teeth
bit down on her lower lip in concentration, and he could see her
doing all the same small calculations he did every time he
practiced his archery. She tested the tautness of her bow, the
weight of her arrow, and the direction of the wind. Her knowledge
impressed him. Her weight subtly shifted, but her skirt swished
around her ankles and alerted him to her change in
stance.
    Fascination stilled him. He might
lose, but the loss of his money didn’t worry him. Her fingers
lifted off the bow and the arrow buzzed through the air true and
straight. He’d underestimated her. Her arrow sliced down the middle
of the other arrow and a collective gasp, followed by cheers and
groans filled the air. He wanted to cheer too, but jaded lords
didn’t cheer.
    She whooped, her arms flying above her
head in victory and her feet leaving the ground with her
enthusiasm. He grinned as he watched her. She had real spirit. He
no longer gave a damn about needling his father. He wanted to get
to know this chit for her sake alone.
    She faced him with a grin that lit her
whole face. The sight was breathtaking. “I thank you kindly for
your money,” she said. He grabbed her arm before she disappeared
into the swell of people wanting to congratulate her and those who
wanted a chance to earn their money back.
    “ I’d still love for you to
come to my town home.”
    “ To see your one piece of
art?” She tilted her head challengingly to the side.
    “ No. To see my archery
collection.”
    “ Oh!” The smile on her
face filled her eyes and made them shine like polished
bronze.
    “ By God, you’re lovely.”
He’d not been so taken with a woman’s beauty since he’d been old
enough to understand women used their appearance to scheme and
manipulate.
    Her light eyebrows tilted into two
twin arches as she gently pulled her arm from his grasp. “Thank
you.”
    “ Miss Prattle,” her friend
said through clenched teeth. “Our hour is over.
    “ Tell me your name,” Grey
insisted as his intriguing, blonde beauty started backing away from
him. He didn’t want her to go. Not yet.
    “ You already know
it.”
    “ Your real name,” he
amended, advancing toward her so she couldn’t simply vanish into
the thickening crowd. “I could call on you. Take you to the
theatre. Show you things you’ve probably only imagined.”
    A lovely pink blush stained her
cheeks. “I’ve a great imagination.”
    “ Then let’s explore it
together.” He didn’t give a damn how forward he sounded.
    “ Enough!” her annoying
companion said. “We must go now. It’s been two hours.”
    “ Two hours!” his beauty
gasped. “Dear me. I really must go, but thank you for the
offer.”
    He sidestepped in front of her and
looked down into her upturned face. “Meet me here tomorrow,” he
said, desperate to ensure he would see her again. Her
indecisiveness showed as she bit on her lip. “I won’t let you leave
unless you agree.”
    “ That’s
coercion.”
    “ Whatever it takes.” He
loved the word “whatever”. It left so many intriguing possibilities
open to explore.
    “ Please remember that
tomorrow.” She sidestepped around him.
    A sense of satisfaction filled him.
“I’ll see you at the fountain at