Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson Page A

as right as West Texas rain."
    Chrissy pushed to her feet, her blood pumping. "And heaven knows if my mother said it, it is etched in granite and by that I mean your head because there is certainly no difference between the two!"
    Cole closed his eyes, his jaw working. Eventually, his voice now controlled and cool, he said, "Christina, please. Our conversation has taken a different turn from what I expected. I think it would behoove us to take a few moments to reassess our situation."
    "Oh, I hate it when you talk lawyer-fog." She flounced around the room, frustrated and feeling more alive than she had since first setting foot on British shores. In truth, she enjoyed sparring with this man. Sometimes she won their verbal battles, but not always. It was, she figured, that possibility of defeat that made the duel so stimulating.
    Cole took the seat she had vacated and gazed at her expectantly. Finally, she sashayed over to a chair, sank down on to the gold velvet upholstery, and folded her arms. Then, knowing how much Cole hated it, she pursed her lips in a childish pout.
    He managed to ignore the gesture. "All right, we'll table the rest of it for now. I'd like to hearofyour efforts in connection to the lost document."
    She eyed him thoughtfully. He was ready to listen to her now. That could be a good thing, or a bad thing.
    Chrissy inhaled a deep breath, then began. "I know you intended to travel to London to speak with Lord Melton because of his family ties to the Republic of Texas. I believe my mother told you Grandfather knows of two other gentlemen who might have information: Viscount Welby and Sir James Parkwood, third Baronet of Craver. Everything fell together tidily when I learned that Sir James has a bachelor son, Mr. John Parkwood, who is a year or two younger than you. The viscount is a widower whose wife died without bearing him an heir."
    Cole leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees, head hanging. "Oh, no. I can see where this is going already."
    "Actually, it's not going anywhere. They're coming here. Lord Melton, too. My grandfather is hosting a house party that is officially scheduled to begin in two days. You saw some of the early arrivals in the billiard room."
    "And Welby and James are on the guest list."
    She flashed a brilliant smile. "Lord Welby and Mr. Parkwood. The viscount, Sir James Parkwood, and his daughter are already in residence. Mr. John Parkwood will be joining his family at Hartsworth shortly."
    "Meant to become potential suitors, I assume?"
    "For all your faults, Morgan, you've never suffered from a lack of intelligence."
    "It's a shame I can't say the same about you," he fired back automatically, in keeping with the familiar pattern between them.
    A comfortable quiet settled across the room while he took a moment as if considering her plan. When he shook his head slowly, she knew what was coming. She wrinkled her nose and sniffed in protest.
    "You can't do this, Christina. I don't know what lies you told to sneak this past the earl, but I will not allow you to seduce information out of anyone."
    "I have no intention of seducing or being seduced," she scoffed. "I intend to do a bit of flirting, that's all. A little innocent flirting."
    "Innocent flirting? You?" Cole snorted. "And the Queen invited me for tea at the palace, too."
    "But Cole—"
    "No but's about it, Bug. The last time you flirted innocently you were five years old. Take it from someone who knows. All you have to do is look at a man to heat his blood. Bat your lashes a time or two and he'll be ready to howl at the moon."
    "Really?" she asked, intrigued.
    "Really."
    "What if I bat my lashes at you, Cole Morgan? Will you howl at the moon, too?"
    That stopped him like a castle wall. Choking, sputtering sounds emerged from his throat.
    A stern voice floated from the doorway, "I should like to hear the answer to that question, myself."
    Cole came to his feet as Edward Stanton, Earl of Thornbury, roared into the little library