Shana Galen by When Dashing Met Danger Page A

was definitely the kind to expect too much. True to form, she pressed up against him, her actions bold even for the isolated terrace. Alex felt nothing for her. The once-hot fire of attraction had been replaced by the icy smoke of distaste. He opened his mouth to rebuff her when he heard a gasp.
    Bloody hell.

Chapter 8
    “O h!” The exclamation sounded tight and strangled. Cracking his eyelids open, Alex looked past Amelia to Lucia—her expression shocked and indignant. He closed his eyes again, unable to believe even he could have committed enough sins to warrant this much misery. Whatever mistakes he had made, he didn’t deserve the scene that was coming.
    “Excuse me,” Lucia began, “I—I—” She broke off and turned to leave.
    “Miss Dashing.” Alex cut her off, barely resisting the urge to grasp her arm. “May I introduce Mrs. Amelia—” He stopped, realizing his mistake too late. A woman of Lucia’s station did not associate with members of the demimonde, even the more reputable ones like Amelia Cox. Lucia’s jaw dropped, and her eyes widened.
    “Mrs. Amelia Cox,” he finished weakly. Lucia stared at him almost a full ten seconds before recovering herself, turning to his former lover, and bowing very, very slightly.
    Amelia was far more gracious in her curtsy, taking the opportunity to exclaim, “How fortunate! I was just asking Alex to introduce us.”
    Alex winced at her familiar use of his name.
    “I’m so pleased to make your acquaintance,” Amelia said, seeming to enjoy his discomfort. “I find that it’s always to one’s advantage to form new acquaintances, don’t you agree, Miss Dashing?”
    Alex grimaced, Amelia’s gloating tone ramming his mistake home.
    “Yes, of course,” Lucia replied, her voice stiff as her spine. “If you will excuse me.”
    “No, Miss Dashing, pray excuse me .” Amelia put a hand on Lucia’s arm. Lucia stared at it pointedly. Amelia only smiled. “Don’t leave on my account. I was just going back inside.” Flashing him one last smile, she brushed past Lucia and disappeared through the French doors into the ballroom.
    Alex took a breath, preparing for the coming storm. Lucia stood perfectly still, then, raising her chin a notch, she sliced him a withering glare.
    “Good night, sir.”
    Alex blinked. That was it?
    She whirled on the heels of her white satin slippers, but before she’d taken two steps, he clasped her arm.
    “Let go!” she hissed, trying to wrest her arm away.
    Ignoring her struggles, he tugged her into the shadows at the end of the terrace. “That introduction was thoughtless,” he heard himself say, and she stopped fighting. “I don’t know what I was thinking.” But he did know. He’d been thinking that he had to do something—anything—to stop Lucia from leaving.
    She stared at him, the surprise in her eyes at hisapology turning to frosty disdain. “Your romantic liaisons are certainly none of my affair, but in the future refrain from introducing me to your Cyprians!” She yanked her arm free.
    “She’s not my mistress.”
    Lucia snorted.
    Alex clenched his jaw. “All right. We were lovers once. A long time ago.”
    “It didn’t look like a long time ago.”
    “Take my word for it.” With a glare, he dared her to doubt him. “Now tell me what you learned from Seaton.” He slid smoothly into the change of topic, hoping she’d follow suit. She gave him one last fulminating stare, then relaxed, leaning against the terrace banister. Casually, Alex propped a hip beside her. He was close enough that her arm touched his tailcoat, and he could almost smell the cinnamon and vanilla scent clinging to her.
    “Nothing I didn’t already know,” she said, gazing at the twinkling gardens. “Seaton genuinely believes, as I do, that John left for a tour of Greece.”
    “How do you know he believes that?”
    She eyed him through lowered lids—a purely seductive gesture. Unintentional? He doubted it. Hell, she’d probably