Mistress of the Groom

He tunnelled his fingers under her hair and guided her into a kiss that warmed the chill of loneliness from her soul.

with a taunting slowness. ‘Better?’ He held out the handkerchief. ‘Your turn.’

‘For what?’ she said suspiciously.

‘Your lipstick’s smudged. It’s obviously not kiss-proof... not that it would need to be. You usually just freeze off any man who gets within touching distance, don’t you Lady Sherwood?’

Normally the snooty nickname didn’t bother her, but this man gave it an extra bite that made her snap. ‘If he’s anything like you—yes!’

‘You haven’t dated the same man more than twice in the last two years...they can’t all be like me!’ he said drily.

‘I’ve been too busy,’ she replied icily, and immediately regretted it as his eyes narrowed in sly triumph.

‘Have I been working you too hard? Were