Lord Gage pulled on a thoughtful frown. “Not yet.”
Jo raised a brow. “Not yet?”
They twirled, the lights and people blurring in the background. Only a pair of dark blue eyes were constant in her vision.
“No. I was thinking that perhaps you would be amenable to a longer association.”
Jo’s stomach dropped. There it was. “I don’t think I can oblige,” she said with a polite smile.
“You don’t even know what I was about to offer,” he countered.
“I think I have an idea, my lord,” Jo said sweetly.
“Truly? And what is it?”
“A liaison,” Jo said and raised a brow in challenge.
“I did not expect you to answer as directly as this,” he said with an apologetic smile.
“I am not the type of woman to be coy.”
“No, you’re not,” he agreed, his gaze unfathomable.
He twirled her around again. His hand tightened on her back, drawing her closer to his hard body. The heat emanating from him was making her weak in the knees, and his scent… Well, it was rather intoxicating.
“However, I was not talking about a liaison.”
“You weren’t?” She raised her brow in disbelief.
“No. In fact, I find that word rather… unappealing.”
“The word? Or the meaning?”
He chuckled. His low voice did unconscionable things to Jo’s nether regions. Butterflies fluttered inside her stomach, and she felt decidedly uneasy.
“I find it quite crude, don’t you? Although the prospect of it is quite appealing, especially with you. But perhaps we should start with a friendship.”
Now it was Jo’s turn to laugh. “A friendship? Between an actress and a viscount?”
“Why not?” He shrugged.
“Because you would want more.”
“And you wouldn’t?”
Jo bit her lip and shook her head. “I wouldn’t.” Even if she would want it, she wouldn’t allow it.
Lord Gage reared back as if she’d hurt him, his facial features theatrically offended. “You wound me.”
Quite the charmer.“I am certain you will survive,” she countered with a smile.
His gaze turned serious for a moment before he quipped, “Perhaps. But will I want to?”
Jo let out a chuckle. “I must admit that you possess a great deal of charm, my lord. But no charm in the world will be enough to persuade me to enter into a… friendship with you.”
Lord Gage twirled her again, blurring their surroundings, muddying her senses. “How can I change your mind?”
She had to collect her wits before she could answer. Jo smiled sadly. “You can’t.”