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wakefulness. "Had a hard night, did you?" she goaded him.
    He rolled over onto his back. Several buttons on his white shirt were undone; Chloe got a very nice glimpse of taut, golden skin and a flash of a gold chain before it slid under his shirt.
    Lacing his hands behind his head, he gazed up at her, eyes sparkling with humor. "I rode like hell to get here and you know it."
    "Yes, I suppose…" She glided the blade of grass across her lips in a seemingly unconscious action. His gaze fell instantly to her mouth.
    Chloe knew the exact moment he realized it was the same blade that had just run across his own lips. His eyes darkened. She was thrilled. It was a very good sign. In fact, he seemed to have made a decision of some kind.
    "Come lie down here with me." He spoke quietly as he held his hand out to her.
    Chloe swallowed. She had wanted a reaction, but not this strong of a reaction. " Wh -what for?"
    John raised an eyebrow. "So we can discuss the English economy. What do you think 'what for'?"
    "I—you—you can't be serious!"
    "You were the one who said you wanted to improve your technique. Well, I'm in an 'improving' state of… mind." He patted the grass beside him.
    The reprobate ! That was not what she had said! She bit her lip. It was what she had said…
    However, it was not what she had meant! "That was not the entire package. If you recall, I proposed an agreement with you regarding marriage."
    John had already decided to accept her proposal. Not that he was ready to tell her yet. He wanted to see if… There it was. Chloe's bow mouth pouted. It always did when she was forced to wait for an answer she might not like.
    John smiled to himself, then observed something different about the facial expression. How was it that he had never noticed how lush and full her lips were? He stared at her mouth, captivated. Once the image of that enticing mouth was brought to his attention, he couldn't seem to let go of the sight. What would those soft, full lips feel like beneath his own ?
    Chloe's lips.
    Opening for him, inviting him inside…
    The unbidden image almost caused him to groan out loud. Fortunately, he was able to stop himself in time.
    John blinked; he had never even thought of Chloe in that way before. Be that as it may, now that he had imagined it, he intended to investigate. Fully. The very idea suddenly made him hot. Red hot.
    He would have to pounce, of course.
    The situation called for nothing less. So John rubbed his chin as if still mulling her words over.
    Chloe watched him, alert as a hawk.
    Almost time , he told himself, but not yet …
    Sensing John was close to telling her his answer, Chloe held her breath and leaned forward.
    "I agree, then, Chloe; I'll marry you." Now !
    Chloe released the breath she was holding, only to choke on it when his hands quickly came up to clasp her shoulders and tug her down on top of him.
    "John!" She squirmed in his hold.
    "First I want to have a taste of what I'll be getting." Strong arms encircled her, bringing her close. He dipped his head toward her.
    Chloe gasped and tried to pull herself back. What had gotten into him? He had seemed so docile a minute ago… Yes, like a sleepy-eyed tiger! she admitted ruefully. There was no way she could allow this! As far as it went, she must remain off-limits to him until after the ceremony.
    For one thing, he was far too experienced for her even to think she could control him; she would never be able to stop him from taking her. For another, if he found out how inexperienced she was , he would be off to
London in two shakes of a rake's tail.
    As his lips descended she instantly put her hand up in front of her face to stop the contact.
    " Whaf ar you doin ?" he mumbled against her fingers, voice muffled.
    "No, we cannot." She spoke succinctly so he would understand her.
    His arms tightened around her waist. He turned his mouth slightly so he could speak. "What do you mean, we can't? Of course we can. You said yourself