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The next day Robert found it was difficult to focus on his work. He sat in his office for hours, staring at sheets of numbers that seemed to swirl around the page. His assistant had to come into the room more than once to explain things to him. That was unusual for them both.
The problem was the night before hadn’t gone as he planned. He knew after reading the article in the paper that his plan to seduce Becca might become more difficult, but instead it seemed to be getting easier. The way she had come to his defense had been unexpected and unwanted. He didn’t like feeling as though he owed her.
“Mr. Donovan?” His assistant popped his head into the office. “You have a visitor.”
“Were we expecting someone?” Robert didn’t remember having any appointments, but he hadn’t been thinking clearly. His assistant was in charge of keeping his schedule.
“No. She showed up without an appointment.”
“She?”
The assistant pushed his wired rimmed glassed up his nose and looked around the room with a worried expression.
“It is a lady who has arrived.”
Robert made it a point to never invite any of his affairs to come to the office. He preferred to keep them away from his business life. Most of them would hardly be described as a lady.
“Who is she?”
He had just asked the questions when he heard a woman’s voice answering him from behind his assistant.
“If you invited me in, you could find out for yourself.”
He would know that voice in his sleep.
“Let Miss O’Hare in,” he said, standing up behind his desk and brushing the wrinkles off his vest. His suit jacket was thrown over a nearby chair, too far out of reach for him to get to it before she entered. It was his office after all, so she should expect him to be comfortable. He moved around the desk, so it wouldn’t be standing between them when she came in.
“I’m glad I met your approval,” Becca said as she swept into the room.
She was dressed smartly in a striped walking dress and matching jacket in a navy blue. The dark colors were meant to show her mourning, but he had to admit they looked good on her. Her dark hair and pale skin looked better in those deeper tones than they would in pastels.
She had a pointy little hat with a large feather pinned to her head and it bobbed as she walked, matching the rhythm of her hips. It was captivating to watch.
“What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” he said, trying to keep from sounding as excited as he felt.
“I wanted to make sure that you were all right. You left in such a hurry last night.”
“I thought it best if I left quietly, without making a scene.”
“It felt as if you were running away.”
“I never run.”
She lifted one of those perfectly arched eyebrows.
“Fine, I might walk briskly away from a situation.”
He was rewarded by one of her smiles.
“Your mother was kind enough to make your excuses to the hosts and the other guests. You suffered from an upset stomach if anyone offers their sympathies.”
That sounded like something his mother would use and excuse. He rolled his eyes, reminding himself to thank her for the embarrassment later.
“What was the real reason you left so suddenly?” Becca asked.
“Do I need a reason to end my night?”
She stood there, looking at him directly with those blue eyes. He couldn’t handle it for long.
“I felt unwelcome,” he finally admitted. “I know that you did your best to prove otherwise, but there were still too many disapproving looks to make me comfortable. I worried that they might soon turn their censure on you.”
“Are you worried about my reputation?”
“Someone should be.”
“My mother is more than capable of that burden.”
“Then you should listen to her better.”
As they argued their voices were getting louder. He could feel his body getting tense. This was the first time he had an argument with a woman. He didn’t like the emotional feeling.
“You don’t have the privilege of giving me orders, sir,” she said, straightening her back. “If I want to dance with a gentleman, I’m going to. Even if that gentleman is you.”
Robert was reminded that she didn’t know him very well anymore. If she did, she wouldn't be calling him a gentleman.
“There is no need to make such a sacrifice. I would be fine with the rumors.”
“That is not what it looked like.”
“You were watching me?” That gave him a strange, warm feeling in his chest.
“I know that you were hoping to gain favor with the prestigious families attending last night. Your hotel’s success depends on their support. I saw how they were ignoring you.”
Robert shrugged. “I’m used to that by now.”
He didn’t know why he said that, but she reacted by moving closer and placing a hand on his arm. Even though she wore gloves and he wore a shirt, he swore he could feel the warmth of her palm.
“I know you think that you were ignored because of your brothers, but that isn’t true. People saw you.”
“Only because I was an embarrassment.”
“Not everyone thought so.”
They were standing closer than what would be considered proper, and he knew why it was frowned upon. At this distance he could catch her flowery scent and see the details of her lips. It drew his attention in a way that made it hard to resist the urge to kiss her. Only the trusting look in her eyes kept him from trying. He didn’t want to act too soon and ruin the delicate trust he had earned with her.
“You were always kind to me,” Robert said, being smart enough to move so there was a safe distance between them as he went to stand behind his desk again.
“You were family. If Brandon hadn’t left, we would be brother and sister by now.”
That was the cold splash of water he needed to remind him that her feelings for him were not the same as he felt. Robert cleared his throat, trying to think of a way to steer the conversation into a more comfortable direction.
“How was the rest of your evening?” he asked. “Did you dance with any more eligible gentleman than me?”
Becca paused and he could almost hear her trying to decide what to share with him. Those blue eyes showed such intelligence when she was thinking.
“There don’t seem to be as many to choose from as I remember. My mother claims it is because of my age.”
“That ridiculous. You are more beautiful now then you were...” Robert caught himself in the middle of the elaborate compliment when he saw the blush spreading across her cheeks. “You are still beautiful.”
“Yes, there were a few gentlemen who agree with you. I didn’t have an empty dance card, just not as full as my mother would want.”
“Any gentlemen in particular?”
Robert held his breath while waiting for her answer, dreading what he might hear.
“No one that I would say I enjoyed dancing with. Most of them were... a chore to listen to. Not very men can be as charming as your brother was.”
Robert exhaled.
“Stephan was also kind enough to take me for a turn so I could get a break from the drudgery. He was at least amusing to talk to.”
Robert should have waited before feeling relief. Stephen was going to be his biggest competition. Which was a shame, because he rather liked the man. Still, if he was going to get in Robert’s way, he would have to be handled.
“Is there something wrong with Stephen?” Becca asked, her expression showing concern.
“No, no. He’s a fine fellow,” Robert said quickly. “Why would you ask me that?”
“Your face said something different.”
Robert shrugged. “I don’t know the man that well. I’m simply wondering why he would begin to show you attention now. He was never one of your suitors before.”
“I had no suitors before. I was practically engaged to your brother at birth.”
She smiled at her own joke, and he couldn’t help but smile back at her.
“He is simply good company,” said Becca. “For now that is enough.”
“I hope you will have higher expectations for marriage.”
“Why? I had love the first time and that turned out badly.”
“You still deserve to find love.”
The moment of silence stretched between them, and Robert imagined he could hear the beating of her heart. Maybe that was his own echoing in his ears.
“Perhaps I could come to love him over time. Feelings can change and thus far, he’s the only man I can stand to be in conversation with for more than five minutes.”
“The only man?” Robert raised an eyebrow at her and watched her lips flap.
“You don’t count!”
She gave him a playful slap on the arm and without thinking he caught her hand. He felt the soft satin of her glove and wondered if her skin felt the same. He watched her breath catch and her gaze shift to his lips. They were having the same thought, but Robert came to his senses and released her.
“As you can see, I have not suffered any injury from last night.”
Robert took a step back, giving her enough room to get a good look at him. Then he extended his arms to either side and gave her a slow turn. He was thankful he paid his tailor so well once he got back to see the glimmer of interest in her eyes. She might have been seeing him for the first time from that expression. Her blue eyes appeared a deeper color above the pink of her cheeks as she blushed.
“I have been through worse scrapes than a few rumors. No one that matters will believe it.”
“There was a grain of truth.”
Robert shrugged. “I know I behaved badly that night, and I will always be ashamed of that. That was the past and I’m a better man now. If you can see it, surely they will to.”
“And the business?”
Robert pointed to his ledger, still open to the page he had been trying to read before she came in. “My numbers are adding up nicely. This hadn’t hurt the hotel’s reputation. It might have added to it.”
“People do love a scandal,” Becca agreed.
“Exactly! Thanks to that reporter, everyone is going to want stay at the hotel owned by the Bad Donovan.”
“You are not the bad one...”
“I know my role in the family. I was the embarrassment, which is why they sent me away. I came back better for it. So don’t feel bad for me.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and looked up at him. He was reminded of how small Becca was, regardless of her big personality.
“I’m glad to see you are doing well, but that wasn’t the only reason I came by.”
“Oh?”
She smiled softly at him. “My mother is planning to host a small get together in our garden tomorrow. Sort of a way for me to make new acquaintances. It will be largely this season’s debutantes, whom she hopes I will make friends with.”
“Sounds terribly dull.”
“I agree, but she insists. Say that I must become known to my peers if I hope to make a good match.”
“Making friends shouldn’t be too difficult.” Becca had always been liked by the other children growing up.
“Yes, but I think it might be a good opportunity for you to meet this seasons debutantes. Without all the fuss of a ballroom.”
“Trying to give me an advantage?”
“Even the playing field. The other gentlemen have known these girls growing up, while you have been away such a long time.”
“I haven’t received an invitation,” he pointed out.
“You are going to let a small detail like that stop you?” He watched her wiggle her eyebrows, those delicately arched lines over her blue eyes. “I imagine you can come up with a reason to stop by unannounced.”
“That would be impolite.”
“That has never stopped you before.”
Robert sighed. He hated to admit it, but he might want to stop by this tea party. He would have to convince at least one of her parents to let him stay, but it would allow him to see Becca without any other gentleman competing for her attention.
“Please?” She tilted her head up, giving him a pout as she clasped her hands in front of her. She had never been known to do that sort of pleading before. He was not immune to it.
“Fine, but there better be something to eat.”