Seduced by Jess Michaels

your gathering a few days ago.”
    Claire chuckled. “ Mr. Blackwood . Does Jack despise it when you call him that?”
    “He keeps trying to correct me, yes,” Letty admitted, bending her head as she thought of how much more intimate their brief relationship had become despite her insistence on using formal address with the man.
    “What about him?” Claire asked gently.
    “I have had a hard time reading him, I admit,” she said, treading lightly. “Certainly he isn’t like the men I’ve met in Society.”
    “No, War and his brother are entirely unique,” Claire said. “I think my husband got the better of that, but Jack is actually far more decent than he’d like the world to think.”
    Letty’s brows lifted slightly at that tidbit. “Is he? That was what I wondered. After all, the rumors about who he really is, his criminal activities…well, one would be led to believe he isn’t a decent man. But then he speaks so eloquently and can be…surprising.”
    Claire tilted her head. “This sounds like a far deeper line of questioning than I usually get regarding Jack.”
    Panic swelled in Letty’s chest. Had she gone too far, revealed too much? She tried to sound nonchalant as she continued, “What do people normally ask?”
    “Usually they just want to know if he’s truly the Captain Jack, notorious ruler of the underground.”
    “Well, I ask further because…because…” Letty struggled for a good reason before she struck on the perfect one. “Because of Griffin. My younger brother has become rather obsessed with the man, I fear. He wants to follow in his footsteps into a life of crime. I’ve spoken to both of them about it, but I’m trying to determine Mr. Blackwood’s character to know if I have reason to be more concerned than I already am.”
    “Ah,” Claire said slowly, still examining Letty’s face in a painfully direct way. Then she nodded. “If it is a character reference you desire, I can say that there is far more to Jack Blackwood than his reputation or his behavior may imply. He is loyal to a fault, he adores his brother despite a painful shared past and he is trustworthy.”
    “Trustworthy?” Letty repeated. “How do you mean?”
    “He will betray, of course—it is part of his life.” Claire’s tone became very serious. “But if you extract a promise from him to keep your secrets, he will take them to his grave.”
    Letty found herself breathing a sigh of relief. One that was swiftly followed by abject terror. Was she really going to do this?
    “Are you certain you are only asking after Jack to protect your brother?” Claire asked softly.
    Letty shook her head. “Of course. Why else?”
    “Well, you two seemed to be talking rather intently the night of our party. And later when he found out you’d left without saying goodbye, he seemed troubled. Or as troubled as that man allows the world to see.”
    “I assure you, it is nothing more than Griffin’s well-being which worries me,” Letty said. Lied. Of course she worried about her younger brother’s path, but that wasn’t on her mind now. She was thinking of Jack’s kiss.
    Of Jack’s statement about losing control when he was with her. At first she’d thought he was only teasing her with his flirtation, but now she couldn’t help but dream… could a man like that want her?
    Would she be brave enough to find out?
    The very idea went against everything she had ever done, said or believed about herself. But if she could muster the courage, not only would she get more of those drugging kisses, but Jack could very well help her solve her other problem. He could help her open the door to a future again, a marriage, even children.
    She blinked away the emotions that flooded her and said, “You needn’t worry about Mr. Blackwood, Claire.”
    Claire smirked. “Oh, trust me, I don’t worry about Jack. He can take care of himself. But tread carefully, Letty. Whatever you decide, whatever you do when it comes to taking