The Wayward One (The De Montforte Brothers Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

looking down over his shoulder again, and had dismissed her as easily and quickly as everyone else had, her brother included. What was she, invisible?
    “Fine then, I will. You wish to know why I’m here and not out in the garden with everyone else? It’s because my brother thinks I’m made out of glass, that I might crack if I stay out there and watch him demonstrate his explosive, that something might happen to me. I’m sick to death of my brothers’ over-protectiveness. Some days I feel as though I can barely breathe. God forbid I end up in any danger! God forbid I ever have any sort of adventure! They treat me like a child, like a fragile doll, and I’m tired of it!”
    He had finally looked up and met her gaze, one black eyebrow raised in either amusement or surprise that she’d confess so much to him, a perfect stranger. “Well,” he said, eyeing her, “why not make the most of the situation? Ye’re here, I’m here, and we’ve got the best seat in the house. Come watch with me.”
    “No, I’m going back outside. I came here to support my brother and I’m going right back out there whether he likes it or not. Besides, it’s not proper for me to be up here with—”
    “It’s only im proper if anyone but us knows ye’re up here,” he added, pointedly. There was something languid and predatory about him, something dangerous, and Nerissa tensed, wondering how long it would take her to get to the door. “So come and watch with me. We’ll both have the last laugh. Unless ye’re afraid, of course.”
    “Afraid?”
    “Ye’re still standin’ over there. Come over here. Ye’ll be able to see better.”
    “I can’t do that!”
    “Why not?”
    “Because—because you’re there!”
    He was looking back down again at the garden below. “Aye, don’t tell anyone. I’m supposed to be gone, remember?”
    “I must leave, it was foolish of me to stay as long as—”
    “So your brother down there designed some sort of new firecracker?”
    She backed toward the door. “Not a firecracker, an explosive.”
    “What kind of explosive?”
    He looked up again and the intensity of his gaze, the raw virility of him as a man—and a very tall, powerful, and attractive one at that—caused her heart to do a little tripping flutter. She clapped a hand to her chest. Oh, this was all wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong!
    “What kind of explosive?” he persisted.
    “Oh, I don’t know.” She took another step back toward the safety of the door. “A loud one. A powerful one. I don’t know much about Andrew’s inventions, he’s far smarter than the rest of us and I’m sorry but I must go—”
    “We were never introduced, ye know. I’m Mrs. Lord’s brother. You can call me Ruaidri.”
    “I’m not calling you anything, I’m leaving.”
    “And what is your name, Sunshine? Ye’re his sister, aren’t ye?”
    “Yes, I’m his sister, and there is no need for you to know my name, no need for you to be asking me all these questions and trying to detain me, no need for me to stay here when I must go.”
    He grinned, wickedly. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
    “Tell what?”
    “Yer brother, if you let me steal a kiss.”
    She gasped, coloring hotly. “You—you are a rogue and a scoundrel to even suggest such a thing!”
    “I may indeed be a rogue and a scoundrel but if I am, it’s not for wantin’ a kiss from a pretty lass.” He straightened up from the window, his strong, perfect teeth very white in the glint of moonlight. “Oblige me?”
    “No!”
    “I’m bettin’ it’ll be far more explosive than what’s about to transpire down there in the garden. Come here, Sunshine. I’ve a mind to see if those lips of yers were made for kissin’.”
    Nerissa’s mouth fell open. Her face went white, then flooded with color, and she was so shocked she could not even take another step backward.
    Seeing it, the Irishman laughed and made a little dismissive gesture with his hand. “Ah, don’t mind me,