Seduced at Midnight

A ghost of a smile whispered across his face. 'Good. I'm delighted to be in a category unto myself.' His gaze lowered to her mouth, and her lips involuntarily parted. When he raised his eyes to hers, his seemed to glow with a banked flame. 'About your invitation…' He leaned slowly toward her.

'Invitation?' Dear God, was that breathless sound her voice?

'Yes. You invited me to do my worst.' His lips hovered just above hers. 'But I'd much prefer to do my best.'

Oh, my… Her entire body tensed, humming, tingling with anticipation. Waiting… wanting…

A sharp yip sounded. Then another.

She blinked her eyes open. No lovely male lips hovered anywhere near hers. Indeed, Gideon had stepped away from her and was scowling at the carpet.

'What in God's name…' he pointed toward the floor, 'is that?'

Feeling bemused-and decidedly unkissed-Julianne followed his gaze and stared down at the white ball of fluff returning Gideon's scowl measure for measure. A ferocious growl rumbled in her pet's throat-or at least as ferocious a growl as something barely larger than a teapot could manage.

Julianne scooped up the bristling, protective bundle of fur, cuddling it close to her chest. 'This is Princess Buttercup.'

For several seconds the only sound was Princess Buttercup's rapid sniffs as she stretched out her bejeweled collared neck and quivered her nose in an attempt to catch Gideon's scent.

'Princess Buttercup…' Gideon repeated slowly. Then he briefly pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. 'And just what exactly is Princess Buttercup?'

'She is a Maltese.'

'A Maltese? I suppose that's some fancy breed of dog?'

His tone raised her hackles and her chin. 'Of course she's a dog. What did you think?'

'At first I thought it was a long-haired, yipping rat.'

Annoyance rippled through Julianne, and she hugged her baby closer to her chest. 'That's very unkind,' she scolded, her voice a hissing whisper. 'Princess Buttercup looks nothing like a rat.'

'She's the size of one.' His scowl deepened as it raked over her pet. 'Are those bows in its hair?'

'Yes. You'd wear bows, too, if your hair hung in your eyes all day long.'

'I assure you, I would do no such thing.' He craned his neck a bit then asked, 'Good God. Is it wearing a… dress?'

Julianne hiked up her chin another notch. 'Certainly not. It is a short, tulle skirt. She doesn't wear dresses or gowns-they inhibit her walking.'

'I suppose next you'll tell me she has a tiara.'

'Only a small one. For very special occasions. For everyday outings she prefers hats.'

His gaze shifted back to Julianne. 'You're joking.'

'On the contrary, I'm perfectly serious.'

He muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'bloody most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.'

Irritation pursed her lips. 'You're acting as if you've never seen a dog before.'

A humorless sound escaped him. 'That'-he nodded toward Princess Buttercup-'is not a dog. That is a yapping, dressed-up, miniature ankle biter.'

Julianne gasped, covered Princess Buttercup's tiny ears with a protective hand, then lowered her voice. 'That is a completely inaccurate, not to mention unfair, assessment. For your information, dogs are supposed to bark. She didn't bite your ankle- although she clearly should have. She's merely very protective of me, and you're a stranger to her. As for me dressing her up, she's the closest thing to a sibling I've ever had, and as we both enjoy it and it harms no one, I can't see that it's any of your concern.'

With indignation fueling her, Julianne advanced a step toward him and shot him her most scathing look. 'Regarding her size-she cannot help it if she's smaller than normal. She was the runt of her litter, and no one else wanted her. I prefer to call her petite.'

She pressed a kiss to Princess Buttercup's soft fur. 'We've heard Mr. Mayne's opinion of you. Let's see what you think of him.' She set her pet back on the carpet. The little dog immediately approached Gideon's boots, which were given a thorough sniffing examination. Julianne grudgingly gave Gideon credit for remaining still, even when Princess Buttercup went up on her hind legs, rested her diminutive front paws on the shiny black leather, and continued to sniff.

Finally the dog circled around Gideon once, then plopped her bottom on the carpet. After a series of sharp yips, she hoisted herself upward, front paws clawing the air, tail swishing, and pranced about.

'Does that mean I pass muster?' Gideon asked, and Julianne thought she detected a note of reluctant amusement in his voice.

'Hmmm… it would seem so,' she said, not adding that Princess Buttercup, whom she deemed a very good judge of character, had had a very different reaction to her earlier callers. She growled at all of them and had particularly disliked Lord Haverly. 'Actually, that particular move means she wants to be held.'

'Then perhaps you should pick her up. Before she trips on her skirt.'

'She's prancing for you. You pick her up.'

Julianne had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing at his expression. 'Me?'

'Yes. You. Surely a big, strong man like you isn't afraid of a… what did you call her? Oh, yes… a miniature ankle biter?'

He frowned. 'Of course I'm not afraid. I simply wouldn't want to break the little beast.'

'Oh, she's quite sturdy. And quite fierce.' She scooped up the prancing dog. 'She won't bite you.' She stifled the smile threatening to curve her lips. 'Probably.'

Before he could protest further, she settled Princess Buttercup against his chest. His hands came up, and to his obvious discomfort he found himself with a palmful of panting white fluff.

'Um, I really think-' His words were cut off when Princess Buttercup's eager pink tongue proceeded to bestow a bevy of kisses to the underside of his jaw.

Cuddled in those large, capable hands, held against his broad chest, enthusiastically kissing his skin-for the first time in her life, Julianne found herself envious of her pet.

'Bloody hell, cut that out,' Gideon said gruffly, stretching his neck to the side to avoid the barrage of canine adoration. Yet even as he said the words, Julianne noticed how gently he cradled the little dog. How his fingers tenderly stroked her.

And for the second time in her life, Julianne found herself envious of her pet.

'It appears she likes you,' Julianne said.

'You sound surprised.'

'Actually, I am. She's never taken to any gentleman so thoroughly. Indeed, she normally snaps and snarls at them.'

He looked at her over Princess Buttercup's head. 'In my experience, dogs are very good judges of character.'

She couldn't help but smile. 'If that's the case, then, given her reaction, you must be a prince among men.'