SEDUCED AT MIDNIGHT
Page 34
He also knew damn well that at this point there was no chance he'd find a woman who wasn't attracted to his money. The best he could hope for was a woman who was at least honest about it and who found him equally as attractive as his wealth. A woman he could respect and admire, who wasn't haughty and supercilious and fond of staring down her aristocratic nose at him, and who set his blood on fire. It had so far proven an impossible combination to find. While money made most aspects of his life easier, there was no denying it complicated his personal relationships. And caused him to view people and their motives through suspicious eyes, although he'd done that long before he'd had two coins to rub together. That wary mistrust had saved him more than once.
"We're nearing the Fenstraw town house," said Gideon. "So far I've observed nothing unusual."
Logan yanked himself from his brown study and realized that Park Lane
was indeed just ahead. His gaze scanned the row of town houses across the thoroughfare and settled on the aged brick facade of the one belonging to Lady Emily's father. He now knew she was home, but would he see her?
Logan expelled an exasperated breath. Why the hell did he care?
Once again, the memory he'd been trying so hard to erase slammed into him with such force his footsteps faltered. Of soft, plush lips opening beneath his. Of lush, feminine curves pressed against him. Her taste and scent inundating his senses. The flood of unwanted, unexpected desire that had nearly drowned him.
He briefly squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head to dispel the unsettling mental picture that wouldn't let him go. Damn it, this simply wouldn't do. And it suddenly occurred to him that he hadn't kissed or touched another woman since his interlude with Lady Emily. Good God, no wonder he couldn't get her out of his head. He'd been more celibate than a monk.
What he needed was a woman. To put out this unwanted fire Lady Emily had started. To ease his body and fill his mind with someone else other than her. Yes, that was a perfect plan and he deserved a thump on the head for not thinking of it before now. There was a soiree this evening at Lord and Lady Teller's house. He'd make it a point to attend and find an attractive woman and seduce her. If he couldn't find one at the party who interested him, he'd damn well visit every pub in the city until he did. No woman at a pub would look down her nose at him.
"We'll separate here," Gideon said after they crossed Park Lane
. "If I see anything suspicious, I'll report to you immediately. Remain on your guard and let me know if you sense anything else. Until we determine if there's a threat to you, don't go out unescorted. Or unarmed."
Logan's gaze flicked down to his boot where his knife was sheathed. "I'm always armed."
"Are you going out this evening?"
"I am. And I'll be careful. Although, as neither of us observed anything amiss, I'm wondering if I'm merely tired and preoccupied. If you'll come to the house tomorrow morning, I'll see to your payment and let you know if anything happens this evening."
Gideon nodded. "All right. Good luck with your meeting." Logan drew a deep breath and nodded. There was business to attend to with the earl. Business that had nothing to do with Lady Emily. Her motives for kissing him were highly suspect; although, it didn't really matter what those motives had been. He was forewarned and had no intention of falling prey to whatever devilish plot she'd concocted. He had no desire to see her, no desire to speak to her regarding what had transpired between them, and certainly no desire to repeat it.
If he kept telling himself that enough, surely it would become fact.
He was about to turn to walk up the flagstone steps leading to the double oak doors of Lord Fenstraw's town house when the sense of menace he'd felt earlier hit him like a blow to the head. Senses on alert, his gaze scanned the entrance to the park across the street. And riveted on a man standing in the shadow cast by a soaring elm. A man whose gaze was fixed on Logan.
Everything inside Logan seemed to freeze. His breath. His blood. His heart. No … it couldn't be.
For several stunned seconds all he could do was stare. A carriage crossed his line of vision, and when it moved on an instant later, the man was gone. Logan's gaze darted about, but he couldn't find any sign of the man.
"Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost." Gideon's low voice broke through Logan's shock.
Damn it, it felt as if he had. "I thought I saw someone…" his words trailed off and he shook his head, feeling foolish. Yet undeniably shaken.
"Who? Someone watching you?"
There were so many people in the park. Of course the man wasn't who Logan had thought. That was impossible. A slight resemblance combined with a trick of the shadows. "Just someone who looked like a man I once knew."
"Maybe it was him."
"No. That man … died. Years ago." He looked at Gideon. "I once heard that everyone has a double somewhere. Seems it might be true."
"Which man is it?" Gideon asked, looking toward the park.
"He's gone. It was nothing. And I'm due for my appointment." After one last look toward the now deserted area around the elm tree, Logan forced back the unwanted memories the sight of the man had threatened to release and made his way up the flagstone walkway to the earl's town house.