Unfortunately, he had no clue what to do with her next.
However, his body didn’t have any such qualms, his cock hardening by just looking at her. If she continued to stare at him, he feared she would discover his predicament.
Not wanting to be caught gawking, he cleared his throat. “Please, stay for just a moment.”
As if he’d reached out and pinched her, Diana went rigid, a charming flush coloring her cheeks while she looked anywhere but at him. Using her distraction to his advantage, he steered her toward his study.
He waited until she entered before releasing his pent-up breath. She studied the room, seemingly a bit dazed at how she ended up in his study, and began to wander. She’d left her hair loose, and he trailed after her, mesmerized by the way the strands swayed with every step.
He didn’t understand his reaction, but he wasn’t going to question it. It had been years, beginning even before his wife died, since his body had reacted so swiftly to a woman.
He frowned at the chair behind his desk, not liking the distance it would put between them. Instead, he gently placed her bow on the loveseat and waited for her to claim her possessions, the opportunity to be near her too delicious to pass up, feeling a bit foolish for being excited about the chance to sit next to her.
“When did you rent the Henderson cottage?”
But instead of taking the hint and sitting, she continued to wander around his study, randomly touching the few items he had on display. Moving a book. Picked up a trinket to study it. “A few weeks.”
He hurried after her, clenching his fingers to keep from snatching the items out of her hands. Each time she set an item down, he returned the piece back to its exact spot, suddenly uncomfortable about having a stranger invade his space and disturb his orderly life.
“I have not seen you around.”
The corners of her mouth twitched. “I haven’t been around much.”
The cat-and-mouse answer jolted him, and his curiosity deepened.
When she caught him organizing the books she’d just browsed, heat flooded his face, and he reluctantly retreated…and immediately missed her nearness.
He braced himself to hear her laugh or ridicule him about his obsessive behavior, but she tilted her head, staring at his hands, fingering the gilded letter opener. Then she put the slim metal down in the exact same spot without missing a beat.
Something inside him loosened.
The smell of jasmine trailed after her, and he couldn’t resist following her again.
Silence stretched, and he narrowed his eyes at her short, evasive answers. Most woman couldn’t stop babbling about anything and everything. Diana remained a mystery.
Like she was hiding something.
He couldn’t shake the sudden worry that she might be in trouble.
Every instinct within him flared to life. He wanted to offer his help, but he somehow had to get the stubborn woman to talk first.
He was aware that Diana had only entered the blasted house because of his daughter.
He was also aware of his own nonexistent charm.
He tugged at the bottom of his jacket, reminded once again that his usually immaculate clothes were below his usual standards, even on his worst days.
The only reason he could imagine why she would refused to talk to him was that his size intimidated her…although she didn’t seem to mind when she’d been pressed up close and personal a few moments ago.
Diana was acutely aware of being watched, his dark blue eyes piercing as he studied her every move.
Mendenhall was digging for information, and had lured her into his office to question her. The last thing she needed was more trouble, but she couldn’t make her feet move toward the door.
It seemed wrong that her reaction had nothing to do with fear.
Her heart should not hammer with excitement.
Her blood should not surge with temptation.
That way only led to trouble.
“Keep close to the cottage. There have been some incidents of unrest in the area.”
Her gut clenched in dread, and Diana tightened her hold on the pen in her hand, not seeing the beautifully carved writing instrument as she battled the overwhelming urge to demand answers.
Could the pastor have finally found her?
She had to tread carefully, couldn’t let the viscount know how much the answer meant to her. Diana adverted her eyes. “Incidents?”
“Young men have been using the railways to travel to and from work. They run in gangs, and have been causing mischief.”
Despite her unease, she shivered at the deep sound of his voice, and it took her seconds to process his words. The tightness at the back of her throat eased, and she nearly gasped in relief.
For the first time since she’d escaped from the burning ruins of the only home she’d ever known, she didn’t want to leave.
She was tired of running.
Tired of hiding.
And she feared it had everything to do with the man in front of her.
Her heart thumped hard at his nearness. She should not be curious about him. And she should absolutely not want to touch him again. Daylight flooded the room, his presence looming larger than life. She should be frightened by his sheer size, he could easily take her in a fight, but she was fascinated by the intensity of his eyes.
With Pastor Williams in the area, she knew she shouldn’t linger, but she couldn’t force herself to leave. “Why would they bother me?”
“A beautiful woman, alone, with no protection? What man could resist?”
Diana’s eyes widened at his stark tone, completely flustered by his appreciation. He hadn’t said it to flatter her, she could tell. He just spoke the truth as he saw it. Her appearance had never been important to her, her childhood consumed with learning her lessons and making herself indispensable, so his compliment caught her off guard.
Those deep blue eyes of his hit her with a force that threatened to suck her under. She backed away, determined to keep her distance and regain her equilibrium.
Equilibrium that seemed to evaporate around him.
So few people looked at her with interest that she gave herself permission to study him more closely. His dark hair was immaculately cut, the thick strands a little wavy, rebelling against his need to control everything in his environment. It made him appear a bit more approachable, if not downright roguish. His face was strong, all hard angles that didn’t invite conversation. He stood well over six feet tall, his body impossibly large, more common in a man used to hard physical labor.
In the dark, she hadn’t been able to get a good look at him. She hadn’t seen anything beyond his disheveled clothes and the wild look in his eyes. That was not the case now. Those broad shoulders and his muscular build should’ve appeared foolish in his fancy suit, not something she wanted to unwrap and explore. She wanted to get closer and muss him up…change him back to the man he was last night to put them back on more even footing. He wouldn’t be considered handsome, but she liked the way he carried himself, always aware of his body and movements. It was more than his size that drew her attention, there was some mysterious element to him that made her take a second look.
When she noticed his frown, she edged further away from him and the forbidden emotions he conjured. “What?”
“I’ve been asking myself about it ever since Emilie vanished, but I can’t figure out why she ran away.” Hurt underlay his tone, and his complete bafflement at the way a woman’s mind worked was almost adorable.
She couldn’t help but smile at his complete bewilderment. “She wasn’t trying to leave. She wanted to prove that she was just as good as a boy by climbing a tree.”
If anything, he looked more lost.
“She got stuck.”
His frown became more pronounced, and he began to pace the small room. Six strides one way, a brisk turn, six back, a ritual that he must perform often, based on the way he never glanced up. “So that’s why she refuses t
o wear the dresses I buy her or play with any of the dozens of dolls in her room.”
He stopped and scowled at her, inspecting her from head to foot.
Something about his expression sent her back another step.
He gave her a single nod, his troubled expression clearing. “You will stay with us.”
“Whaaaat?” All her fantasies vanished with the hard truth of reality. Her gift demanded solitude and constant training, or her powers would surge out of control. It was a matter of survival. It was too dangerous to invite people into her life, and it would be impossible to keep her secrets in such close proximity with others, no matter how much she might wish to linger. Diana bit her lip and eyed the distance toward the door. “I can’t.”
The last thing she could afford was a mistake.
She’d already stayed too long.
Gabriel gave her look…stubborn down to the bone.
She had a sinking feeling that his presence in her life was about to change everything.
“She’s been upset for months. It took you a single night to figure out the problem.”
“Even at six, I suspect she’s every bit as stubborn as her father.” Diana answered, amusement evident in her voice. Humor danced in her piercing blue eyes, knocking the breath clear out of him.
Gabriel was surprised at how glad he was to finally have someone to talk to about his troubles.
“Stay.” Instantly, he knew he said the wrong thing when her laughter faded. Gabriel could feel Diana slipping away from him.
He wasn’t ready for Diana to leave.
It was too soon.
“Just stay for a week, until I’ve had time to replace the nanny.” Until he had time to explore what was happening between them. He didn’t know how to explain it, but she…fit in his life.
He knew he sounded desperate, but he no longer cared.
His daughter was the most precious thing in the world to him, and if this woman could help, she was going to stay.
His head snapped up when she snatched up her bow, and he quickly stepped in her path. “Wait…please.”
He opened his mouth, to say God only knew what, but was spared making a bigger fool of himself by a knock on the door.
“Enter.” Gabriel released a breath, eager to delay the inevitable so he could have a bit more time to think of a way to change her mind.
“Sir, two visitors are here to see you.” Milles gave nothing away with his voice, always the perfect, impassive butler.
The man also knew better then to interrupt Gabriel when he’d finally succeeded in getting Diana alone, so it must be something important. “So early?”
“Yes, sir. The new pastor and his friend.”
“Send them in.” He tugged at his jacket once again, displeased at the wrinkles marring the fabric. When he faced Diana, she had turned white, backing away from him in horror. His jaw locked at the stark fear emanating from her.
He took a step toward her, wanting to convince her to stay, only to have her immediately back farther away.
He was used to people flinching away from him, but it hurt to have her do it.
It was stupid, but for a second, he had completely forgotten his size.
Gabriel very deliberately moved back, everything within him rebelling at the idea of moving away from her instead of gathering her in his arms the way he wanted. And the bastard that he was, his fingers tingled at the thought of touching her for the first time, feeling like the bumbling oaf his first wife had always accused him of being. “There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Footsteps grew louder, and he glanced at the door, not sure if he was looking for a rescue or cursing them for the interruption. He and Diana had been getting along just fine, actually having a normal conversation until the interruption.
For the first time in years, he’d almost felt normal.
Then everything had gone to hell.
The fragile hope for the future he’d been constructing for them turned to ash.
He carefully backed away from her, trying to appear unthreatening as possible.
Instead of calming her, it had the opposite effect. She whirled, frantically searching the room. When she ran toward the window, he finally registered that her fear had nothing to do with him.
A trickle of sweet relief swept through him before his protective urges roared to life.
He’d been right. She was in trouble.
And if it hadn’t been for him, she would have made her escape.
He owed it to her to do everything in his power to protect her.
When he half-expected her to vault out the window, she ducked back. Her chest heaved as she pressed herself against the wall, her eyes wide with panic. “Diana, you’re safe here. I won’t let any harm come to you.”
She was his.
The sound of his voice shocked her into action. She practically leapt over the desk, slid over the smooth surface, and dove underneath just as the door to the study began to open.
His jaw dropped, nonplussed by her reaction.
The dark wooden front panel of the desk concealed her presence from prying eyes.
A lightheaded feeling of relief ran through him.
She wasn’t running from him.
He quickly rearranged his face to greet the guests as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. He wanted to laugh at the absurdity, but frowned instead, wondering what could compel a woman so competent and self-reliant to cower in fear.
“Sir.” Milles opened the door and set down a tray of tea before delivering a short bow.
The man had obviously known Gabriel wanted privacy and had delayed as much as possible.
Manners his nurse ingrained in him as a child took over, and Gabriel stepped forward. “Pastor Graham, I hope everything at the rectory is satisfactory.”
“Quite. Quite.” The lean pastor bobbed his head, his light brown hair flopping, his faded green eyes congenial.
“Please be seated.” Gabriel rounded the desk then hesitated when he realized sitting in the chair would put his crotch at eye-level with Diana. Must to his chagrin, his body reacted predictably. He gingerly took a seat, awkwardly trying to rearrange his legs to mask his arousal. “Who’s your friend?”
Gabriel hadn’t realized how relaxed he had become speaking with Diana. Faced with the two men, tension flooded back, the long night finally beginning to catch up with him.
Diana was an enigma. She wasn’t normal gentry.
There was nothing pretentious about her, and he liked her more for it. If anything, she was frank and honest to a fault…even when she was hiding from something that frightened her so much it sent her scurrying under his desk.
“Oh, yes. This is Pastor Williams. He was in the area and came to visit for a short time.”
The older man sat unbending, his dark brown eyes alert, almost predatory, as he took in his surroundings.
At the sound of the pastor’s name, Diana pressed forward, practically vibrating with rage, as if she wanted to leap out and murder the man. With the heat of her body soaking into his leg, his depraved mind could almost imagine what her breath would feel like on his cock seconds before she took him into her mouth.
Gabriel froze, then shifted uncomfortably, well aware that Diana had a clear view of his reaction to her. He’d never felt an attraction this strong, and he marveled at the power of sheer lust.
And since it was happening while there were two pastors in the room, he knew he was going straight to hell.
“Pastor Williams came to me with some disturbing news, and I felt it my duty to notify you immediately.”
Diana’s hand clamped down on his knee, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. The small gesture was devastating, his body reacting as if she reached into his pants and caressed him. There was nothing sexual in her touch, but his wicked mind immediately imagined what her touch would feel like if she shifted her hand higher.
It took all his concentration to stay focused. This was his only chance to d
iscover what she so arduously tried to hide from him.
He wouldn’t be so easily distracted.
Gabriel laced his fingers over his stomach, mostly to keep from reaching for her. “I’m glad you came to me. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Pastor Williams, an old, gaunt man with a stack of gray hair, seemed innocuous enough until he spoke, and an inner fire lit in his eyes. “A criminal has escaped capture and has been spotted heading in this direction.”
“Excuse me?” Gabriel practically snorted at the absurdity of the comment.
Diana was not a criminal.
He didn’t believe the pastor for one moment.
“You may laugh, but this is a serious issue. I’ve been following a young woman throughout England. She’s been stealing from the church, but every time I close in on her, she slips through my grasp. I’m beginning to suspect her of witchcraft. She must be stopped before more innocent people are hurt.” Gnarled fingers reached into his jacket pocket, and Williams reverently removed a piece of paper. He carefully unfolded the sketch and handed it over. “This is the woman.”
“Witchcraft?” Gabriel allowed his skepticism to show.
“What is an attack on the house of God, if not witchcraft?” The prompt reply indicated just how much time he’d spent chasing after Diana, and his determination to hunt her down.
Gabriel’s heart sank. He grabbed the sheet, thinking the best way to get rid of the crackpot was to humor him. When he glanced down, his breath stalled in his chest.
Diana stared back at him from the page.
The sketch exposed every exquisite detail of her face, and his stomach clenched in dread. He struggled to keep his face impassive and not reach over the desk to physically pick up the little jackal of a man and toss him out.
The reason for Diana’s stark fear became startlingly clear.
The bastard was hunting her.
“She is very beautiful.” He folded the paper and opened a drawer, intent on keeping the incriminating paper. Her nervousness and insistence about leaving now made sense.
“I will take that.” Williams didn’t wait for Gabriel’s agreement, instead snatching back the drawing. He caressed the page almost reverently. “She uses her wiles to bewitch others, clouding their minds while she schemes to steal everything they have of value. She is very dangerous. If she is spotted, don’t approach her. You must notify me immediately, and I’ll see justice done.” His voice rose in volume, booming throughout the room, no doubt practice from speaking at the pulpit.
Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) Page 4