The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(11)

The glimmer in her eye told him he’d won. If there was one thing Rafe knew, it was people. Their motivations and their weaknesses. It’s what made him a good spy. Daphne would never be able to resist that challenge.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “On one condition.”





CHAPTER SIX




Daphne eyed the handsome rogue who stood before her. Rafe scrubbed his hand through his blond hair, mussing it so the short ends stood up straight. He was so certain of himself. So confident, strolling in here with ultimatums and bargains. Two could play at that game, and Daphne was no longer the unsure little ninny she’d been last year. He’d appealed to her sense of justice. He knew she couldn’t refuse that. And she couldn’t. If she thought for one moment she could help catch the evil men responsible for Donald’s death and Rafe’s torture, she wouldn’t say no to the opportunity, but she certainly wasn’t about to allow Rafe Cavendish to be in charge and order her about.

She was going to help him avenge her brother’s death. But she would do so on her terms, by God. Not Rafe’s.

“What’s the condition?” Rafe asked, squeezing his gloves so hard his hands turned red. Oh, he wasn’t pleased with her today. Not at all. Good. She wasn’t pleased with him. But Daphne turned away so she wouldn’t have to look at his mussed hair. It was too alluring by half.

“I refuse to allow the party tomorrow to be affected by this. I want you to leave. Come back Sunday night and I’ll go with you then.”

She shouldn’t have glanced at him for his answer. His sparkling eyes, the cleft in his chin, they were too much.

“Not a chance,” he replied, his grin positively wicked.

She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot on the rug. “I’m sorry. I think you have me confused with someone who doesn’t have the upper hand.”

He gave her a look that clearly indicated he was sure she’d taken leave of her senses. “Who says you have the upper hand?”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “You’re attempting to convince me to agree to help you, are you not?”

“I’m offering you the opportunity to keep up this charade of a courtship with your suitor. But there’s no way in hell I’m leaving this house. I’m staying right here. I won’t cause trouble.”

“Charade of a—” Ugh. There was no arguing with the confounded man. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why?”

His grin widened. “Why won’t I cause any trouble?”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “Why do you insist upon staying? Why would you even want to?”

“I can’t leave, Grey. I couldn’t do that. That wouldn’t be fair to you. You need me too much.”

“I need you too…? You’ve completely lost your mind.”

“Not yet. Not completely.” He sauntered over to the sideboard and poured himself a glass of brandy.

She pushed her nose in the air. “Still drinking, I see?”

He didn’t even bother to glance over his shoulder. “Still being far too judgmental about it, I see.”

“You didn’t answer me. Why do you want to stay?”

The bottle clinked against the glass. “You are my wife, aren’t you?”

Blast him. His words sent a little thrill through her, despite her best efforts to quell it. “Legally only.”

“Maybe so, but I need to make certain this Fitzwillow fellow acts like a gentleman toward my wife.”

Daphne growled under her breath. “It’s Fitzwell. And don’t call me your wife.”

“Fitzwhatever. And you are my wife.”

Daphne continued her foot tapping. No one could make her more angry more quickly than Rafe Cavendish. She felt a scream rise in her throat. No doubt that would bring the entire house running and she definitely didn’t need that. Instead, she took a deep breath and counted three. “I don’t for one moment believe you want to stay to keep an eye on Lord Fitzwell.”

His grin made her knees weak. “That transparent, am I?”

She wished.

“Very well, the truth is I want to keep an eye on you.” Rafe brought the glass to his lips and for a brief moment, Daphne was jealous of the glass.

“Me?” She pointed at her own chest, blinking her eyes wide.

He inclined his head toward her. “That’s right.”

She plunked a hand to her hip. “Do you honestly think I intend to do anything outrageous during this party?”

He took another quick sip. “Not at all. I merely think you might leave before Sunday night. Slip off when I’m not looking.”

She flung her hand in the air. “That’s preposterous. Why, I would never do a thing like that.”

Rafe splashed another bit of brandy into his glass. “Ludicrous, is it? You’re telling me you haven’t done it before? Like, say, last time we went on a mission?”

She turned her back on him and marched toward the door. “Fiddle. I wasn’t hiding from you then. You were with me, for heaven’s sake.”

“I’m merely making the point that you’ve been known to slip away and do exactly as you like. I can’t take any chances with this mission.”

She turned back toward him, glaring at him. “I would never abandon this cause. It’s for Donald,” she said through clenched teeth.