If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen Page A

entirely true. There had been one and possibly two men she’d bedded. He was nothing if not thorough, and he couldn’t find that they’d paid her in any way for these encounters. In both cases, there had seemed to be real affection between the two. Which only made her human, and far more restrained than he, since he had certainly had years where he bedded far more than one or two women.
    And there hadn’t always been much affection.
    But he did feel affection for Fallon. She was refreshingly honest and quite clever and could throw a hell of a punch. And she was beautiful, too. He couldn’t forget her looks, but those weren’t why he liked her, why he wanted her. He liked her because he respected her. She could hold her own, far better than many of the men he’d worked with. She might grouse and complain, but she was no wilting flower. For that alone, he might have forgotten the blackmailing and let her go on her way.
    Except he didn’t want her to go on her way. Not without him. They were going to bed together. He didn’t know when and he didn’t know where, but he knew they shared an uncommonly powerful attraction, and there was only one place for an attraction like that to lead.
    Unfortunately, tonight he was taking her to The Grotto to meet Gabriel. He glanced at his pocket watch. They’d spent an hour at Alvanley’s. Her time was up.
    He started across the room. She must have seen him coming because her eyes widened, and she shook her head slightly. He kept walking, forcing several couples who were loitering in his path out of his way.
    She shook her head more vigorously, causing the men surrounding her to look about for the cause of her distress.
    He kept walking.
    And when one of her suitors blocked his path, he gave the man a slight arch of the brow and that was all it took to convince the clodpole he should move. Not all of her suitors were so intelligent. A few stood their ground.
    â€œSir,” one pup said, his voice all but breaking. “I don’t believe the lady wishes to make your acquaintance.”
    â€œThe lady already knows me. Fallon, we’re leaving.”
    â€œYou may go at any time you like,” she told him from between the shoulders of her entourage. “I’m staying.”
    â€œNo, you’re not. Come with me now, or else I’ll be forced to take more drastic measures.”
    â€œSir,” another puppy said. “The lady has refused you. Please take your leave. Don’t worry, Marchioness. I will protect you.”
    Warrick all but rolled his eyes. He didn’t know whether to be amused or annoyed. He settled on annoyed. “Last chance, Fallon.”
    â€œNo,” the first pup said. “It’s your last chance.” And the idiot tried to punch him. Warrick easily caught the boy’s fist and pinned his arm behind his back. “Ow, ow, ow!”
    â€œFallon, your lapdog is in distress,” Warrick said. “Are you coming with me, or need I make more of a scene?”
    â€œI’m coming,” she said, pushing through the men still surrounding her. “Let him go. Mr. Dunsyre, are you all right?” she asked, stooping to look in his face.
    â€œOw!”
    She glared at Warrick. “Release him.”
    Warrick opened his hand, and Dunsyre fell to his knees and cradled the arm. “You almost broke my arm.”
    Warrick raised a brow. “If I’d wanted to break it, you’d be doing more than fighting tears right now, boy.”
    Something poked him in the chest and he looked down to see Fallon’s finger poking him again. “Stop harassing people and leave. I’m not going with you.”
    She turned away from him, and he grabbed her elbow and bent his mouth to her ear. Several of her admirers moved as though to protect her, but Warrick gave them warning glances and they paused. “Come with me now, or I will really make a scene,” he