by Anna Bennett
“Forgive me.” Despite a valiant attempt to keep a straight face, his eyes crinkled in a vexingly charming manner. “Like it or not, we have an arrangement of sorts. I thought we should be on more familiar terms.”
“We do not have an arrangement,” she countered, even as she dragged her gaze from his impossibly muscled thighs.
“Fine,” he amended. “We are working together for our mutual benefit.”
“No, we’re perpetrating a lie because you’ve placed me in an untenable position.”
“I wish it didn’t have to be this way.” His fingertips brushed against her shoulders—incidentally perhaps … it was difficult to be sure. Either way, the slightest touch had made her body thrum. “But we might as well make the best of the situation … vixen.”
“Stop that at once,” she snapped.
“I was only jesting,” he said, grinning.
But he did have a point about their temporary alliance, blast it all. Regrettably, they would be spending an inordinate amount of time together, and until she could prove that Uncle Alistair was the rightful owner of this house, she had no choice but to trust Lord Travis. With one careless action or word, he could ruin her. Indeed, the shattering of reputations was all in a day’s work for an unapologetic rogue.
But she had no intention of falling victim, either to him or his charms.
“I am willing to form a truce with you,” she said, careful to keep her voice icy.
“Excellent,” he said smoothly. Hopefully. “There’s no reason we can’t make the next few days … pleasurable.”
Oh dear. “I’d prefer amicable.”
“Why split hairs?” he said, as if there were no distinction at all. “In any event, allow me to extend the first olive branch and make a gesture of good will. Simply tell me what you would like me to do.”
“Very well.” She sat a little straighter and folded her hands in her lap. “You may begin by acting the part of a gentleman.”
“Happy to oblige.” He pulled in his legs and squared his shoulders. “How am I doing so far?”
She cast a critical eye over him, from his mop of sandy brown hair to the toes of his expensive boots. “Marginally better. However, there is still the matter of your cravat. I’m certain I don’t need to tell you my sister’s embroidery cloth is hardly an acceptable substitute.”
“You are correct,” he intoned formally. “I shall remove the offensive garment at once.”
Good heavens. As he grasped the cloth from behind his neck, she reached out with both hands to hold it in place. After all, a makeshift cravat was better than none at all. “That won’t be necessary,” she said quickly—but it was too late.
As he yanked the cloth free, it slid from beneath her fingers, leaving her palms on the tanned, warm skin of his neck and chest. Lord help her.
Stunned, she momentarily froze while Lord Travis lightly circled her wrists with his hands and tugged her closer.
“I’m trying to act like a gentleman,” he said hoarsely, “but it’s damned difficult in the face of so much temptation.” He stared at her lips like a starving man … and her traitorous heart leapt in response.
“It wasn’t my intention to tempt you,” she whispered—but made no move to pull away.
“Perhaps not,” he breathed, “but you have earned yourself another name nonetheless … temptress.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Bennett started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided that books with balls, dukes, and gowns were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags—and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.
Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anna found her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Other weaknesses include reality TV, cute shoes, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Teaser
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
I DARED THE DUKE
Copyright © 2017 by Anna Bennett.
Excerpt from The Rogue is Back in Town Copyright © 2017 by Anna Bennett.
Cover design by Danielle Christopher
Cover art by Jon Paul Studios
Author Photo by Anne Ardizzone
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / April 2017
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