Page 68 of Dangerous

Adam had cast down his quill and pushed aside his ledger, looking up at his wife as she stood before him, pleading his daughter’s case so passionately.

The fight in question had arisen when Adam agreed to take Mia and the girls riding. When he and Mia arrived at the stables, they found two of the three girls neatly and attractively dressed and waiting. Eva, on the other hand, had arrived for the ride late and in a wrinkled and too-large habit, one of her sister Catherine’s castoffs, he surmised, her hair loose and wild, no hat, and filthy gloves with one finger protruding.

Whether his children liked it or not, they knew Adam despised unpunctual behavior and did not tolerate a slovenly appearance. He sent her back to the house, telling her she could arrive on time and properly dressed in the future, or not ride.

What had ensued had been the kind of scene that turned Adam’s blood cold. By the time Eva stormed back to the house, he’d been emotionally drained—and frightened.

The subsequent ride had been subdued. Catherine and Melissa, both generally well-behaved and pleasant girls, had barely spoken a word. Even Mia’s irrepressible good humor had not been able to lighten the atmosphere.

Mia had come to him later, after talking with Eva, who was refusing to leave her room in protest.

“She won’t come out of her room, Adam,” Mia said, as if the matter were Adam’s doing.

“That is an excellent place for her,” he said coolly.

Mia was not put off by his words or demeanor. Indeed, Adam noticed, with no small alarm, Mia no longer appeared repressed by his disapproving looks or tone. Instead, she responded to his cold contempt by wedging her body between him and his desk.

He sighed and leaned back in the chair. Undaunted, she moved closer, pushing apart his legs and standing in between his thighs, smiling down at him.

Like the well-trained dog he’d become, he began to respond.

“She is a very sensitive girl, Adam. More so than Cat or Mel.” She’d been here less than a month and already had pet names for the girls. And the girls absolutely loved it, and her.

“I was so much like her as a young girl.”

Adam’s eyes ran up and down his immaculately dressed wife and he snorted. She ignored him.

“I was, darling,” she insisted, wiggling between his thighs in a most intriguing manner, guaranteed to attach his interest. His hands drifted toward her hips, as if they had minds of their own. He was only vaguely aware of her words as he stroked her slim body through her plain but enchanting morning dress.

“Don’t you think? Adam?”

“I beg your pardon?” He reluctantly dragged his eyes away from her body and looked up at her inquiring face.

“You aren’t listening to me.”

“Of course I’m listening to you, but it’s very distracting to crane my neck. Here, sit, my love.” He pulled her down onto one leg, flexing his thigh against her small, tight bottom, bouncing her slightly up and down, smiling at the charming picture she made.

“Adam,” she said, her tone meant to be threatening.

“Yes?” he asked absently, unable to resist cupping her small breast as he dandled her on his knee.

“You must listen first, and then you can play with me.” She grabbed his hand and held it.

He gave an exaggerated sigh and crossed his arms. “Speak, you redheaded harpy.”

She nodded happily. “Eva tries very hard to please you. She adores you, Adam. Can you not look beyond her torn and muddy frocks and see the girl who lives for your approval? She’s a spanking rider, very good with horses, and she knows every inch of your land as well as you do. If she were a son you would think her famous, wouldn’t you?”

Adam was startled by her insight. She was right. Eva would make the perfect son. Well, apart from her appalling emotional outbursts. But Mia didn’t know about those and what they might mean. Coward that he was, Adam was not ready to tackle that subject.

“You may be right, Mia, but she is not a man and cannot expect to be treated as one. You do her no favors if you encourage her in her belief that she can carry on as if she were my son.”

Mia was already shaking her head halfway through his sentence. “I am not arguing that you should treat her as a boy and she does not want such treatment in any case. I am asking that you are more forgiving of her failures as a girl. She is messy and often disheveled, but she will grow past that. Please, can you not try to let some of her failings pass? Try for a short while; if things between you do not improve, you can always revert to your old ways.”

Adam had studied her for a long moment. Could she possibly be as perfect as she seemed? He looked into her clear green eyes, seeking any sign of deception or guile, and found none. But would he be able to see deception even if it were there? He was so bloody besotted, he was all but blind.

He pushed the question aside for another time and considered her request. It was practical and kind. It behooved him as a parent to rise above the childish urge to fratch with his own daughter.

“I shall implement your advice. I thank you for having such a care for my children. I know it cannot be easy for you to inherit three nearly grown girls.”