There was no doubt in her mind that Driscoll desired her, she felt the evidence of his hunger pressed up against her belly every time they embraced.
She also recognized the feelings that settled in her stomach when he was near. She shivered thinking about the time he pleasured her. Next time would he remove her clothes and run his large, warm hands over her naked skin, then take her to bed?
“Are you chilled, sweetheart?” He frowned and pulled out a chair for her to sit. When she nodded, he shrugged out of his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. She pulled the jacket closed and inhaled the smell of its owner. Male, spicy, warm. Driscoll.
Dare she tell him she shivered from anticipation? Would he then consider that statement as her consent and do what she’d been thinking about and dreaming about for weeks? To finish what they’d started the last time they were alone together?
Best to remove those thoughts from her mind. Although it was hard to keep herself focused on it, she hadn’t altered her plans because of this attraction between them. Lately, despite the increase in Driscoll’s attentions to her, she sensed a holding back that had not been there the first couple of weeks she’d worked for The Rose Room. There were times when he just studied her, a question he obviously wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so. Almost as if he didn’t trust her.
Which was quite understandable since she did not trust him completely, or she would have shared her troubles with him by now. A bit of trust missing from both of them. For as far as they’d come it was doubtful they could go any further until they trusted each other.
* * *
“Well, look who’s still lollygagging at the breakfast table. Don’t you have work to do?” The morning after their fistfight, Dante entered the breakfast room at Huntington Townhouse in Mayfair, Driscoll right behind him. “At least that’s what you always tell me when I’m on a well-deserved break at the club.”
Hunt grinned as his brothers pulled out chairs and sat. Dante reached for a slice of toast and the jar of jam to top it with. He smiled at Hunt’s wife, Diana, who was quite close to delivering their first baby. “How is my favorite sister-in-law feeling today?”
“Tired. Bored. Ready to have the baby.” She smiled, the strain on her face and her pallor confirming her words.
After examining his wife carefully, Hunt turned to Dante. “I do have work, in fact. I have to check over the financial statements you sent me.” He frowned at Dante. “What happened to your chin?”
Dante waved his hand. “I walked into a door.”
Driscoll took an orange from the middle of the table and began to peel it. “Going over the statements. Don’t trust your kin?”
Hunt grew serious. “I trust you, as you well know. But mistakes happen.”
“Lately there seems to be a lot of mistakes coming from Miss Pence’s table,” Dante said and glanced over at Driscoll.
Driscoll cast his brother a warning glare. The last thing he wanted was to end up rolling about the floor again in front of his sister-in-law. “I’m sure everything is fine.”
“Miss Pence? You have a woman working at The Rose Room?”
“Yes, and her table is swarmed every night,” Dante said between bites. Hunt had generally appeared at the club a few times a week. However, as the arrival of the Huntington heir grew closer, Hunt had been absent more than present.
Hunt looked over at Driscoll. “Whatever made you hire a woman?”
“She’s smart, talented, a good worker and the members love her.” His words were clipped as if expecting Hunt to challenge him.
Hunt shrugged. “Your decision.” He looked at Dante. “What is the problem with her table?”
“Nothing,” Driscoll said as Dante also answered, “Shortages.”
Diana rose, and all three brothers jumped to their feet. “Well, I will leave you gentlemen to fight this out. I am going to take a short lie-down before Hunt and I go for our ride this afternoon.”
“Are you well, Diana? You look a little drawn.” Hunt studied her as he rounded the table to take her arm.
“I’m fine. Just a bit tired, as I said. I also have been troubled by a backache all night.”
“Should I send for Dr. Reading?” Hunt frowned as he led her out of the breakfast room, calling for her maid to assist her upstairs.
“No.”
Driscoll lowered his voice. “I prefer not to bring this up here and now, Dante.”
“Hunt is a partner, or have you forgotten that minor fact? He has as much right to know about shortages as we do.”
“Not until we have done more research on it ourselves.”
“Ah, but I feel as though you are not doing the proper research.”
Driscoll placed his fisted hands on the table. “Exactly what is it you are accusing me of?”
“Are you two still arguing about Miss Pence?” Hunt took his seat and studied the two of them.
“There is nothing wrong with Miss Pence’s final tally reports.” Driscoll practically growled at Dante.
Dante shrugged. “If you say so.”
“How did you find this female dealer?” Hunt motioned to the footman to bring another pot of coffee.
“She fell into his lap, as it were,” Dante said, grinning widely.
Driscoll made to jump up and swing at his brother. Hunt grabbed the back of Driscoll’s jacket. “Knock it off. What’s the matter with the two of you? And don’t think for one minute I believe you walked into a door, Dante. More like into Driscoll’s fist.”
“Hunt!”
The scream from upstairs had Hunt jumping up and racing to the breakfast room doorway. A woman, who Driscoll assumed was Diana’s lady’s maid met him, wringing her hands. “Her waters have broken, my lord.”
“What? Did she spill a glass of water on herself? Is that why she’s
