Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood Page B

imbecile,” Jade said. “Doesn’t he, Christina?”
    â€œSince you are my friend, I will of course agree with you,” Christina answered.
    â€œThank you,” Jade replied before turning her attention back to Caine. “I’m not a child.”
    â€œI’ve noticed.”
    His slow grin infuriated her. She could feel herself losing ground in her bid to keep him off balance. “Do you know what the very worst of it was? They actually torched my brother’s beautiful carriage. Yes, they did,” she added with a vehement nod.
    â€œAnd that was the worst?” Caine asked.
    â€œSir, I happened to be inside at the time!” she cried out.
    He shook his head. “You actually want me to believe you were inside the carriage when it caught fire?”
    â€œCaught fire?” She bounded out of her seat and stood there with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “Not bloody likely. It was torched.”
    She remembered her audience and whirled around to face them. Clutching the top of her wrapper against her neck, she lowered her head and said, “Pray forgive me for losing my temper, please. I don’t usually sound like a shrew.”
    She resumed her seat then and closed her eyes. “I don’t care what he believes. I can’t talk about this tonight. I’m too distraught. Caine, you’re going to have to wait until morning to question me.”
    He gave up. The woman was certainly given to drama. She put the back of her hand up against her forehead and let out a forlorn sigh. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to reason with her now.
    Caine sat down on the settee beside her. He was still frowning when he put his arm around her shoulders and hauled her up against his side.
    â€œI specifically remember telling you that I cannot abide being touched,” she muttered as she snuggled up against him.
    Christina turned to her husband and let him see her smile. “Destiny,” she whispered. “I think we should leave them alone,” she added. “Jade, your bedroom is the first on the left at the top of the steps. Caine, you’re next door.”
    Christina tugged her reluctant husband to his feet. “Sweetheart,” Lyon said, “I want to know what happened to Jade. I’ll just stay down here a few more minutes.”
    â€œTomorrow will be soon enough for you to satisfy your curiosity,” Christina promised. “Dakota will be waking us in just a few more hours. You need your rest.”
    â€œWho is Dakota?” Jade asked, smiling over the affectionate way the happy couple looked at each other. There was such love in their expressions. A surge of raw envy rushed through her, but she quickly pushed the feeling away. It was pointless to wish for things she could never have.
    â€œDakota is our son,” Lyon answered. “He’s almost six months old now. You’ll meet our little warrior in the morning.”
    The door closed softly on that promise and she and Caine were once again all alone. Jade immediately tried to move away from him. He tightened his hold.
    â€œJade? I never meant to sound like I was ridiculing you,” he whispered. “I’m just trying to be logical about this situation of yours. You have to admit that tonight has been . . . difficult. I feel like I’m spinning around in circles. I’m not used to ladies asking me so sweetly if I could kill them.”
    She turned to smile up at him. “Was I sweet?” she asked.
    He slowly nodded. Her mouth was so close, so appealing. Before he could stop himself, he leaned down. His mouth rubbed against hers in a gentle, undemanding kiss.
    It was over and done with before she could gather her wits and offer a protest.
    â€œWhy did you do that?” she asked in a strained whisper.
    â€œI felt like it,” he answered. His grin made her smile. He pushed her back down on his shoulder so he wouldn’t give in to the urge