“I mean, after the merchants? Not that they’re not interesting.”
“There’s a pretty redhead who came by this morning saying she had business to see you about.” Logan conceded. “I wasn’t sure if I should encourage her. I thought you might still be attached to the lovely Emma Stroud.” “Emma!” Hayden snapped his fingers. “That’s her name. When you see Carrick, tell him I remembered.”
“I remembered for you.” Logan corrected.
Hayden grinned. “Same thing. That’s why I keep you around.” he joked. “You’re the brains behind this operation and I know it well.” Ice racing had been his idea but it had been Logan who knew how to sell it, how to turn it into a profit-making venture and it had been Logan who created this notorious celebrity of his that allowed him to strike out on his own and break free of his past.
“Does that mean you want to see her?” Logan asked sotto voce as they neared the group of businessmen gathered outside the tavern door. There would be warm drinks, plentiful food and a private parlor waiting beyond that door, all for the chance to meet him and discuss possibilities.
“Yes, after I finish with the merchants. Give me an hour.” There was no time to say more. Logan drew him forward with a flourish and the voice of a showman.
“Gentlemen, I give you the champion of Lake Kendal, Mr. Hayden Islington.” There was applause and back slapping. He caught the phrase, ‘What a jump!’ as they ushered him inside and put a liberally rummed hot toddy in his hand. Miss This Afternoon would be here later, his belly would be filled, and his purse was full. Oh yes, it was good to be him.
An hour later, on cue, Logan slipped into the parlor and moved the discussion to its close. “I’m sorry to interrupt, gentlemen, but Mr. Islington has other business to see to today. However, if you’d like to continue your discussion with me, I can assist you but Mr. Islington is needed next door.”
It was all very skillfully done. Logan was a master of tact. The men were in high spirits and eager to get a contract inked. He said his goodbyes and let Logan whisk him to the parlor next door, not that he’d be there long. He’d be taking Miss This Afternoon up to his chamber and he’d be there until supper. He could think of worse ways to spend a cold winter afternoon.
Hayden stepped inside the parlor behind Logan and came to an abrupt halt. Whoa! Miss This Afternoon was stunning. Not only could he think of worse ways, he could think of worse people to spend it with. Red hair indeed! Logan’s description had not done her justice. It was more like the shade of rich red chestnut, a perfect match to the horse that had gone down on the ice, a silky combination of caramel and russet that begged a man’s hand to sink into its lustrous depths.
She stood in profile to them, warming her hands at the fire and showing off other parts that begged a man’s hand too, starting with those breasts. High and firm in the well-tailored carriage ensemble, they would fill a man’s hands nicely — particularly his. The elegantly-done jacket nipped in at her waist showing off a trim figure and reminding a man how neatly his hand would rest at the curve of her hip. Lucifer’s balls, there were a lot of things his hands might do with that body!
The cynic in him, who understood sex was a game like any other, wondered if she hadn’t planned it that way? Logan had only an hour to track her down and confirm the meeting. Yet she was already here; her outerwear, a warm-looking fur-trimmed cloak of brown velvet, already removed and laying on a chair with her gloves on the small table beside it. She’d wasted no time making herself at home in the parlor. Surely a woman of her looks was not unaware of them or of how she might best engineer a scene to provoke a certain male response?
Hayden’s gaze lit on her face and all thoughts stopped right there. The sharp green eyes that met his suggested she knew exactly what was going through his head and she did not approve. He also had the distinct feeling Miss This Afternoon would not swoon over blown kisses, which only fueled an entirely male stab of desire all the more. What man didn’t want what he couldn’t have? But that wasn’t quite true was it? He was Hayden Islington, ice racer extraordinaire, lover nonpareil. He could have her. He merely had to apply himself.
Hayden gave her a confident grin. She might set herself up to be something of a challenge, but she was here all the same. Challenge or not, the conclusion was foregone, and what a lovely conclusion it would be to peel that carriage ensemble from her luscious form, to caress those breasts, to trace the curve of her hip, to test in practice with his body, what his mind already knew in theory; she would be delicious in bed. Hayden looked about the parlor taking in the possibilities; Or on a table, up against a door, with her back flat on the floor. This was starting to sound like a bad rhyme from the schoolroom, the kind tutors used to drill prepositions into their pupils’ heads. Still, if his tutor had taught grammar that way, he might have remembered it better.
“Hayden, this is Miss Jenna Priess.” Logan was making introductions. Hayden dragged his thoughts away from erotic school lessons designed to keep adolescent boys’ interest. He would have been one hell of a schoolmaster. But that wasn’t the point just now. He needed to pay attention. It wouldn’t do to forget her name so soon after hearing it.
Hayden bent over her hand, a very well-kept hand with perfect rounded nails, he noted; his eyes careful never to leave hers while his lips made contact with her knuckles. “Miss Priess, Jenna, how do you do?”
“I’m quite well.” Her tone was as formal as her eyes were sharp. Just now, those sharp eyes flicked over the length of his body ever so subtly he might have imagined it. But then, he was Hayden Islington. He knew when a woman was looking him over. There was no doubt Miss Priess had definitely just perused his form. And, he might add, she had done so in a manner that spoke of some experience and skill in the art of the discreet scan.
She was taking his measure, quite literally. It had been awhile since a woman had bothered. Most of them had already decided he’d pass muster before they even met. Reputations were handy things that way. She pulled her hand away with the slightest of tugs and he let her. She could feign indifference all she wanted with that haughty tone of hers but he’d caught her at her wicked little game and he knew better. “Is everything to your liking?”
Her fabulous eyes narrowed ever so slightly, her posture stiffened at the reprimand or perhaps at the insinuation behind it. To her credit, her gaze never wavered in embarrassment or in acknowledgement of having been found out. “I’ve come to offer you a proposal.”
Hayden flashed her a grin. “Is that so?” He let his eyes roam her form, deliberately copying her actions. This was becoming more interesting by the moment. “Carry on then, Miss Priess. I find I’m quite in the mood for being propositioned.”
The lovely Miss Priess did blush at that but her tone remained firm. “A business proposition.” Her blue eyes flicked briefly in Logan’s direction, making a discreet request for privacy. He would take that as a good sign and if she wanted to refer to her proposition as ‘business’, that was fine with him too. The outcome would be the same and that was all that mattered in the end.
Ever the master of nuance, Logan took the hint, making excuses about returning to the gentlemen next door. “Refreshments are available, if you desire anything.” Logan nodded towards the side table set against the wall. It was his way of indicating Hayden was free to pursue whatever course of action he wanted. There would be no interruptions from the inn staff delivering food.
“Ah, mulled wine. Shall I pour you a mug?” Hayden offered to ease the transition of Logan’s departure. It was just the two of them now. Perhaps a little courtesy would thaw her frosty tone, the wine wouldn’t hurt either. Heaven forbid she actually be here to discuss real business. She had the wrong man for that. That was Logan’s specialty.
“No, thank you. This won’t take long.”
Hayden raised an eyebrow and helped himself