The Earl of Her Dreams Read Online Free PDF

that, maiden.” His smile wasn’t quite conciliatory, but it wasn’t as self-satisfied as it had been. “I’m going to remain in the taproom most of the evening. Other than requiring a few hours’ sleep, you won’t even realize I’m around.”
    She highly doubted that. But she nodded. She would nap while he was downstairs, then stay awake the rest of the night. Something in the softening of his eyes after her obvious distress told her that he could be trusted—to an extent.
    And he obviously wasn’t pining for female attention—his looks if nothing else would guarantee that. His breed of arrogance was a siren call to those of her gender. Kate was determined to keep cotton stuffed in her ears to resist his lure.
    No, Black wasn’t the strong-arm type. He was a cajoler, a seducer, a charmer. She could readily fend off those tactics.
    There was no way she was opening herself up to the type of scorn she would experience. A man like that wanted perfection, he wanted—
    Wait a moment. Why was her stomach fluttering, and why was she worrying about him seducing her? He was more likely to prefer a romp with the willing, voluptuous Daisy. Actually she could probably put money on it.
    “Then we are agreed, maiden?”
    Having convinced herself that she had been experiencing a bad case of nerves, she nodded. “Yes, but stop calling me that.”
    “What is your real name?”
    “Kate,” she admitted grudgingly.
    “Kate Kaden? How awful.” She stiffened. “Ah, so Kaden isn’t your real last name. Quite clever of you. Much easier to respond to a new name when it sounds so similar to the old one.”
    Well, Kate had thought herself clever. But now she just felt mocked.
    “Are we through, Mr. Black?” She stressed his last name.
    He gave her that charming, teeth-gnashing smile that caused her toes to curl in her ill-fittingboots. “Yes we are, Kate. And you may call me Christian.”
    A name less suited to a person, she had yet to hear.
    “I’m honored.”
    “I know.”
    She attempted a smile, but it was forced. With teeth clenched, she barely restrained a hiss.
    “See you after supper, Kate.”
    “You could only wish,” she muttered to his retreating back as he sauntered to the door. “And don’t call me that!”
     
    Christian barely suppressed a real smile as he descended the winding stairs, hugging the railing to avoid the squeaky seventh step. If he had known having a roommate would be such fun, he’d have taken one sooner.
    Christian walked into the smoky taproom and seated himself on a hard chair in the back corner. It was an ideal place to observe everyone entering and exiting the taproom, the dining room, and the inn itself. As soon as Freewater entered for dinner or a drink, Christian would slip upstairs, rifle through his room, find the journal, then spend a few hopefully memorable hours trying to coax his new roommate into spending the time pleasurably.He’d need at least a few hours to work on such a feisty one.
    Daisy sidled up to his table and gave him a saucy smile. “Whatcha havin’, handsome?”
    He cocked a brow. “What do you recommend?”
    She leaned forward, raising her brows invitingly. “There are so many choices.”
    Christian caught a flurry of brown moving through the room, and saw Kate shooting him a look of annoyance before shaking her head and disappearing into the hall. She had every right to be irritated with him after being outmaneuvered.
    Disapproval was a normal response to his actions, and generally he was able to shrug it off. But for some reason he felt the unreasonable urge to drag her back into the room. Irritation vied with amusement. Perhaps he had finally reached his limit.
    Christian turned to Daisy. “A pint of your winter ale will be fine. For now.” He winked, though it took some effort.
    Daisy gave him a saucy grin and sauntered off.
    It took everything Christian had to return her look. He internally shook his head. Within his reach was an experienced wench,