Improper English Read Online Free PDF Page A

but…soon.”
    “Good,” I repeated, wishing I had the nerve to just wrap my arms around him and plant my lips on him, butI am nothing if not circumspect. I clutched my hands behind my back instead.
    He made a little hum of agreement and slowly stepped backwards until he was outside the doorway.
    “Let me know when you want to go,” I said with a rueful smile, a little worried about the sense of loss I felt with his withdrawal. I’d just met the man, for heaven’s sake; surely even my starved libido couldn’t set its cap at the first gorgeous Englishman it clapped eyes on. “My schedule is pretty easy, and all I need is a day or so warning in advance.”
    His lips weren’t smiling, but his eyes were. Ve-e-ery interesting. He nodded his head and turned to take the stairs up to the top floor.
    “My sister is going to be terribly jealous, you know,” I called after him.
    “Is she?” He stopped and gazed at me over his shoulder, an inscrutable look on his face.
    “Yep. She’s a really big mystery fan, and she’s always wanted to see the Black Museum. She’ll be spittin’ kittens when I tell her you’re going to take me there.”
    Both chestnut eyebrows rose. “I believe I mentioned the Crime Museum was closed to the public, Alix.”
    I watched him step onto the landing, then snapped my mouth shut. “Wait a minute, you just said you would take me, and now you’re saying you won’t?”
    He had one foot on the bottom step of the last flight of stairs. The stairwell was too dark to see the expression on his face until he leaned to the side, into the light from a window behind him. He looked just like the Cheshire cat—my jaw dropped at the sight of his grin. The little frisson of fire that had started with our flirtation burst into a full-fledged roaring volcano, threatening to consumeme where I stood. I grasped the door frame to steady my suddenly weak knees.
    “You asked me to take you, Alix, and I fully intend to honor that request. Unfortunately, it’s not possible for me to take you to visit the Crime Museum.”
    I felt as if every bone in my body had melted to pudding under the influence of that wolfish grin. “But…but…you said…you’d take me…”A light bulb lit up over my head. I stared at him, unable to believe what I was thinking. Surely he hadn’t meant…he couldn’t, he was English, and everyone knew Englishmen were cold and reserved and didn’t flirt like that, certainly not suit-wearing detective inspectors. “Uh…”
    “Close your mouth, Alix,” he said softly, and with a graceful tip of his head, he disappeared up the stairs.
    “Well, stone the crows,” I said to no one, looking after him at the dark passageway. “I’ll be…hoooo!”
    I closed the door quietly behind me and leaned against it, reviewing what he had said, what I’d said, wishing I hadn’t been such an idiot, then allowing myself to bask for a moment in the warm promise that was heavy in his voice. I had just gotten to the point where I was imagining him stark naked on the chaise when I remembered what I had said to Isabella about her perfect man. Although Fourth Floor Alex was my type, I was sure he wouldn’t be interested in the sort of relationship I wanted. He didn’t look like the quickie type. Besides, there were other drawbacks.
    I mentally ticked off all of his bad points as I picked up the bag of groceries, my books, and the bread. He clearly had little to no sense of humor, was arrogant, prickly, serious-minded, wore a wool suit even in the middle of summer, and probably wouldn’t know fun ifit came up and dropped its drawers in front of him.
    I looked down at the books and groceries, then frowned and added another sin to the list. “That little rat! He took my pot plant!”

Chapter Three
    The Lady Rowena was on her knees in supplication before her lord, tears streaming down her ivory cheeks, over her chin, down her neck, up over the neckline of her gown, splattering and streaking the thin