Adele Ashworth Read Online Free PDF

and flipped around to look at her.
    His expression grew serious as he grabbed her wrists, palms up. “When did you do this?”
    She blinked, stunned, for he was nearly shouting at her. She tried to jerk away, but he wouldn’t let her free.
    “Answer me, Natalie,” he demanded.
    “I’m sorry,” she blurted, unsure of what else to say as she realized that in touching his chest she had inadvertently wiped blood on him. “Your dog startled me, and my hand slipped. . . .”
    Her voice trailed off as his face visibly paled.
    “It doesn’t hurt at all,” she whispered up to him.
    “Which one?” he asked very quietly.
    “Pardon?”
    “Which one did you cut it on?”
    She almost smiled from his show of concern. “The big one hanging from the ceiling. I’m very sorry.” After an awkward pause, she timidly added, “I know touching your bare chest would be somewhat forward, but if you’d like, I’ll wash it for you.”
    He continued to stare starkly into her eyes for a second or two, then without reply he dropped her wrists, clasped her elbow, and guided her into the kitchen.
    “This is probably going to hurt a little,” he warned, walking her straight to the sink.
    Before she had time to consider what he was doing, he took her injured hand, held it palm up, and poured brandy from a bottle across the cut.
    A searing pain gripped her, and Natalie bit down to keep from crying out. She took a deep breath and swallowed, instinctively trying to wrench her hand from his grasp. He wouldn’t let her go. Instead, he watched her for a reaction, and that made her angry.
    “Was that necessary?” she choked out, clenching her teeth in defiance.
    “Yes, it was necessary,” he quietly replied, his eyes never leaving hers.
    It was finally too much. “Why on earth do you keep staring at me, sir?”
    She thought he almost smiled at that. Then, evidently deciding to ignore her question, he turned to his side, reached into a drawer, pulled out a small dishcloth, and proceeded to wrap her hand.
    “Why don’t you sit at the table and I’ll get the coffee. Hold this tightly to the cut.”
    She did as she was told, grateful his attention had turned elsewhere and he wasn’t looking at her anymore. In the momentary silence, she relaxed a little, watching him easily move about his kitchen. She’d smelled the sweet aroma upon entering the room, but what struck her was that he’d apparently made the coffee himself.
    “You have no servants, sir?” she asked at last.
    He shot her a quick glance. “I have one butler, Charles Lawson, who’s away for the week caring for his mother who is in ill health. And I have a part-time cook and housekeeper, Gerty Matthews, who doesn’t come in until about eleven.” He turned to her. “I’m not in the city much, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
    “I’m sure I’m not,” she rebutted too quickly, admiring him openly. Never before had she seen a man so rich of build, so handsome from head to foot, so . . . masculine.
    “Why do you keep staring at me, Natalie?”
    She blinked, flushing with hot color. Bravely, and congratulating herself for the quickness of her answer, she admitted, “I’ve never seen a man’s bare chest before, and if you weren’t so indecently exposed, I wouldn’t stare.”
    “I’ll bet you would,” he gruffly replied, turning his body to face her fully. He leaned back against the counter, folding his arms in front of him as he gazed at her suggestively.
    Natalie was sure that this moment was one of the most uncomfortable of her life. Her mind churned as she considered what she could possibly say to him. Maybe she should run.
    “Why don’t you explain exactly why you’re here.”
    He had to have noticed the sign of obvious relief that crossed her brow at the abrupt change of subject. “A marvelous suggestion,” she agreed, sitting erect as her courage returned. “I need you to help me find someone.”
    “Really,” he stated rather than asked. “Do I know