With a sniff, she patted her belly. “Clearly, I am not a ‘girl.’”
Niall laughed. “No, clearly not.” He sobered as his gaze met Edwin’s. “And if your new husband doesn’t take care of you, I shall challenge him to a duel.”
“Don’t worry,” Edwin said solemnly. “I would go to the ends of the earth for her.”
The serious statement brought the other two men up short. Then Niall glanced at Warren. “I can’t believe it, but you were right. He is in love.”
Clarissa slid her arm about Edwin’s waist. “Of course he is. I have that effect on men.”
The flippantly spoken words lightened the mood, as his wife had no doubt intended.
With a genial smile, Niall said, “I do hope we got here in time for dinner. I’m famished.”
“Yes, dinner will be served shortly.” Clarissa turned to her cousin. “Warren, are you staying?”
He shook his head. “I must return to London. Something has come up. But you and Niall enjoy your reunion. I’ll see you in a few weeks at the party at Keane’s.”
“All right.” She kissed her cousin, then turned to Niall. “Go on to the dining room. I need a quick word with my husband.”
Niall looked a bit taken aback by her bossiness, but then, he hadn’t seen her in seven years. He didn’t know the Clarissa whom Edwin knew and adored. The Clarissa who’d changed his life. Who’d made him whole.
Who’d proved that he did believe in love, after all.
Niall departed for the dining room, leaving the couple alone together.
Clarissa turned to Edwin with a sultry smile. “So, to return to our earlier conversation, would you like to know what room I’ve imagined making love in?”
That got his attention instantly. “Damned right I would.”
“Perhaps we should make it a wager.” She dragged one finger down his chest, making his blood heat. “If you guess the correct room, you get a reward.”
He swallowed hard. Amazing how she could still rouse him with one word, one look. One sensual insinuation. “A reward, eh? What sort of reward?”
Her minxish smile increased the pounding of his heart. “Oh, I don’t know. You can kiss my arm, I suppose.” With a knowing glance, she touched the inside of her elbow. “Right here.”
“I have a better idea. If I guess the room, then I get to make love to you in it. After your brother has returned home tonight.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes gleamed. “That sounds like an excellent reward. But what do I get if you don’t guess correctly?”
“The same thing you get if I do—my heart, my body, my soul.”
“In that case, I can’t lose,” she said, her love for him shining in her face.
“Neither can I.” He drew her into his arms. “And that, my love, is the best kind of wager.”