Crushing Desire Read Online Free Page B

me,” she said. “What a scandalous sensation we would cause.”
    With wordless thanks to Emily for rescuing her, which Emily often did, Reena forced a laugh. Peeking back, she noted that Martin’s head hadn’t moved, but his gaze had shifted toward Emily as though he’d been watching her all along.
    “I don’t understand why you insist on hiding it, my lady, but I shall keep my eyes to myself this evening.” Martin nodded, sitting back.
    “You’d just better do that, you sly dog.” Emily shook her fan open and waved it before her face.
    Looking over the crowd below, Reena watched the men and women taking their seats. The expensive balcony seats across from theirs were empty. In the theater below, the seats in front held the middle classes, those that were well off but not rich enough to afford the balcony. Behind them was a small section for the masses. Seats that were cheap in price and comfort. Reena grinned, watching as a young man in meager clothes escorted a woman to her seat, pointing out the features of the theatre to her. Her smile faded when a gentleman in a fine greatcoat and hat pushed past the young couple, not even sparing a glance for the toppling pair as he went.
    Movement in the balcony across from them drew Reena’s attention. Joshua stepped into the empty balcony box, and her world froze. Martin’s voice droned on in the background, but she heard nothing. She held her breath, waiting for him to turn. Joshua’s gaze met hers, and he stilled as well. The intensity of his stare made her pulse race, and the air seemed to charge around her. After what seemed like an eternity, but surely had been no more than moments, Joshua averted his eyes. Reena’s breath expelled in a soft whoosh.
    “They think he may need to be destroyed, but we will not know yet.”
    In her peripheral vision, Reena watched as Martin rubbed the top of one fisted hand with the other. She blinked, realizing that he had been telling her a story.
    “Oh dear,” she said, thinking it the correct response.
    Martin’s arm stiffened against hers as he straightened, but Reena’s gaze never left Joshua.
    “If you’ll excuse me, I see someone that I must speak with.” Martin pushed from the chair. He bowed over Reena’s hand, kissing it quickly and then turned and kissed Emily’s. She tapped his cheek lightly with her fan and called him a rogue.
    Reena’s gaze returned to Joshua and found he was watching her. Their eyes met for a moment, and she glanced away. Still, even after all this time, she couldn’t cease her body’s reaction to him. Her mind filled with images of their kiss, and her body tingled with the memory of his caress. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to forget him. To let go of the childish fascination with a man who had proved many times over that he held no interest in courting her. She needed to focus on what was happening around her.
    “What was the story that he was telling?” she asked Emily quickly.
    “I thought that a certain gentleman might have drawn your attention from the conversation,” Emily raised an eyebrow at her, grinning.
    Reena’s cheeks were so warm she didn’t doubt her face glowed brighter than the sun.
    Emily told her about Martin’s horse, achille, who’d had a fall, and the precarious health problems that had followed. It was a sad thought that the horse might have to be destroyed if the injuries were too severe, but even that thought couldn’t hold her mind with Joshua sitting in the box across from them.
    His dowager aunt had joined him now, and Joshua whispered something in her ear. He hadn’t brought a young woman with him tonight. The very idea sent a thousand butterflies taking wing inside her stomach. And they seemed to grow every time his gaze turned her way. He looked so handsome. His dark blond hair shined in the theater lights, and his deep black greatcoat and maroon waistcoat were a dashing combination.
    Martin returned then, bringing Reena’s attention back