The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl Read Online Free

a bit unnerved. She backed away, forcing him to keep hold of the strange thing.
    “It’s a phone. A smartphone. I can make phone calls, play games, and get on the Internet with it.”
    “Trickery and deceit,” he roared. “Take this device away.” He shoved it at her again as the tune tinkled, birds still angrily flying across the screen.
    The wench crossed her arms and stepped back again. “Don’t be stupid. It’s not magical, and I’m not lying. Look at it.”
    “I will do nothing of the sort.” His jaw worked as he glared at her, and he held the phone as far away from his body as he could get it. He would throw it at the wench if she did not take it back soon.
    She blew a breath upward. “Fine.” She snatched it back from him. “Then watch over my shoulder.”
    She backed up against him, pressing her bottom against his thighs. He’d have to have been a monk or a eunuch not to enjoy the soft feel of her body as she pressed it so carelessly against him. Micah was neither, so to distract his lustful thoughts, he stared at the device in her hand. It was so vivid! Funny looking birds with cross faces flew across the words, the lively music playing all the while. She shifted slightly, brushing against the front of his trousers. He ceased to breathe and screwed his eyes shut.
    “Okay, so these pigs stole the birds’ eggs, right? That’s why the birds are angry. So we’re going to launch them from this slingshot…”
    The chit stopped speaking. Micah fisted his hands at his sides. “I shall never harm a female, but you try my patience, madam. Please move away.”
    “For chrissakes, just try it. Please?”
    He opened one eye. She held the object out to him.
    “I should not be moved by your pleas. I should call the watch immediately.” He realized that talking to himself aloud made him sound daft, so he quieted as he gingerly accepted the small box from her hand.
    “Okay, so touch the bird in the slingshot. Keep your finger on it; don’t let go. Good. Now slide it back, and you can kind of aim it.” She maneuvered his finger on the glass, helping him aim, then lifted it straight upward.
    A little gasp blew from him as the red bird went sailing through the air and crashed into the pig’s wooden and glass tower.
    “See? Here. Now you have to shoot the rest of the birds to get the pig.”
    The next few moments were incredible. Might she be telling the truth?
    ***
    Jamie smiled. The earl was completely transfixed by the little animated birds as they flew across the screen. It was almost funny how excited he looked, as if he were a kid with a brand-new toy on Christmas. She remembered her first video game system, and it sort of tickled her to see similar feelings flit across his face. He stared at the brightly lit object in his hand, dark eyes bright with interest as he played through the rest of the level.
    “Here, go on to the next one.” She reached out and took his hand in her own and used his fingers to touch the little white arrow.
    They spent several moments laughing together while the green pigs exploded. Some of her tension eased at Mike’s delight. He clearly enjoyed the game, laughing and smiling easily. He’d even seemed to forget that she’d yakked on his boots. Bully for me .
    While he tried to explode the pigs with helmets, she put the robe back on. Even with the roaring fire in the room, it was still chillier than she was used to. She looked at that damn bureau again. Why the hell had it sucked her in? And why had it dumped her here of all places? She knew approximately bupkes about this place and time, but she did know she was going to need help and a lot of it.
    When the earl grew frustrated at the pigs laughing at another failed attempt, he handed the phone back to Jamie.
    “That was quite diverting.”
    “So, you believe me? There are lots of things like this back where I come from.”
    He straightened his waistcoat and assumed a thoughtful face. Her guts twisted nervously. What if