Enchanted by Your Kisses Read Online Free Page B

do try."
    "And your words sound very much like a challenge."
    For some ridiculous reason she found herself unable to move, even though every nerve screamed run! A man flirting with her could only lead to trouble or even worse, hurt. "Only you would think so."
    "I suppose time will tell."
    "Yes, tell you that you're wasting your time."
    He didn't respond. She found herself oddly disappointed by that.
    "But are you not the least bit curious about what I propose?" he said instead.
    "No. I am wary of men who come bearing gifts."
    "I bring you no gifts but myself."
    "Thank you, but someone else offered me a bottle of the plague tonight. I think I shall accept that instead."
    He laughed again. Ariel was surprised and alarmed to find herself enjoying their banter.
    "You know how to cut a man to the quick, my lady."
    "Would that it was your wrists instead."
    He clutched at his heart as if wounded. "Ouch."
    "Ouch? What happened, sir? Did your ego get too big for your chest? Did it hurt?"
    He held up his hands. "Truce. I cry a truce. I cannot take any more of your sallies."
    "Good, then perhaps you will leave me alone."
    "Not before you answer me. Do you or do you not want my help?"
    "With what?" she asked, exasperated.
    "Setting society upon its ear."
    "Indeed?"
    "Indeed."
    "And why do you have such a burning desire to wreak havoc upon people you yourself said I had no cause to concern myself with?" she asked.
    "Because I find the English stuffy bores. Because if I must stay in England , I should like to amuse myself. Because at this moment you're the best chance I have of that happening."
    "Or perhaps because you are trying to seduce me." Perversely enough, she found herself holding her breath as she waited for his response. She could see that she'd shocked him. No, not shocked. Something else. She stretched her senses out, trying to get a feel for what this man might want. But it was a sad truth that sometimes her intuition worked and sometimes not. Heaven knows it'd failed where Archie was concerned.
    "My lady, no doubt there is a plethora of women more willing to be seduced by me than you."
    "Yes, the kind you have to pay."
    He laughed, even as she wondered where the words had come from.
    "Exactly," he said.
    "I would wager that sort of women is not much of a challenge."
    "Are you offering to challenge me?"
    "Heavens, no, merely stating a fact."
    "I see."
    "But you must understand why I find it hard to believe you wish to help me, a complete stranger, out of the goodness of your heart. Let us just say that my experience with men has left me more jaded than that." And it had. No matter that she found herself oddly excited by their impromptu meeting. She was wiser than she'd been in youth, more in control of herself.
    "Is it so hard to believe that a man would want to help you out of the kindness of his heart?"
    "The men I've known have no heart."
    "Perhaps I'm not like other men."
    She doubted it. All men were alike.
    "Perhaps you should take a chance that I'm sincerely trying to befriend you." He took a step toward her. She held her ground, though she felt her body spring alive at his nearness.
    Danger.
    "Perhaps you should know that I would consider it a mistake for you go scurrying back to the country, content to let society rule your actions for the rest of your days."
    She lifted her chin. His silver eyes glittered in the moonlight.
    "And perhaps you should know that I consider half the people in that ballroom hypocrites of the first order. That they malign you when they themselves have no honor is the biggest hypocrisy I've seen since coming to London ."
    He leaned toward her. "Don't let them win, my lady. If you do, you will be fending off indecent offers from men for the rest of your life."
    She felt her breath quicken as she stared up at his handsome face, knowing he was right. Though he hadn't looked at her indecently this night, others had. Those men considered her fair game because of her ruination. She hated them for