Should he thank him? Respond in kind? He wasn’t used to this kind of attention. Christ, his heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest. “I like your eyes.” Heath blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.
Kane chuckled. “What is it about my eyes that you like?”
Now what?Think of something, anything!“They are a darker shade of blue than I have seen before, almost black, like the sea on a stormy night, when it absorbs the darkness into itself.”
“You sound like a poet.”
“Do I?” Heath had never wanted to kiss someone as much as he did in that moment. “Perhaps your lessons have paid off.”
“I’m glad.” Kane stroked a single finger down Heath’s hand. “But there is so much more I can teach you.”
A moan threatened to escape, but Heath bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself. He should step away before he did something foolish. Too late. His cock already strained against his trousers. Hopefully, Kane didn’t notice.
“I think we should return to the house. It must be near lunchtime,” Heath said.
“Of course,” Kane responded before walking out the door then holding it open for Heath to pass through.
They mounted their horses, pointing them in the manor's direction.
“Do you mind if we take the main road?” Heath asked. “I know it’s a little longer, but I don’t think my leg can take the jostling over the hills.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Kane responded as he steered his horse back to the lane.
Part of what Heath said was true. Galloping over the fields would aggravate his leg, but he also wanted time to clear his head and cool his lust. The obvious attraction between him and Kane was getting harder to resist. But what good would it do to become involved with the man he’d hired to tutor him? Eventually, Kane would leave for another post. Where would that leave Heath? Alone again. It would be better to resist temptation all together rather than risk forming an attachment. What his mind said made sense, but his heart didn’t agree.
The pair continued their course. At a turn in the road, Heath spotted a carriage coming towards them. Given the summer weather, it was an open carriage which contained Mrs. and Miss Wilcott. He inwardly groaned.
“Good afternoon, Sir Heath, Mr. Badgely,” Miss Wilcott said with a cheerful smile.
The men greeted the ladies.
“We are on our way home for lunch. Would you gentleman care to join us?”
Heath glanced at Kane, silently begging for help so they would not have to attend.
“I have business in Dover, but if Sir Heath wants to join you, I will not keep him from you.”
What the devil was Kane doing? Hadn’t the man just caressed his hand and ran his fingers through Heath’s hair, and now he was offering Heath up as a lunch companion? What was Kane’s game? Heath held his tongue.
“That is a shame, perhaps another time, Mr. Badgely.” Miss Wilcott turned her attention back to Heath.
Perhaps it would be best to accept now. Then there would be no need to promise for a future engagement. “I would be delighted.”
The young lady squealed with delight. Mrs. Wilcott ordered the coachman to drive on. Heath steered his horse to follow the carriage, but not before he gave Kane a look that would have turned most men to ice. Kane shrugged his shoulders, then kicked his horse into action, galloping the opposite way down the road. Kane seemed awfully quick to be rid of him. What was in Dover? Kane had mentioned no business to Heath. It was very suspicious.
It would have to wait since he had to catch up with the carriage.
Thankfully, Mr. Wilcott joined them for lunch, so the conversation was not completely filled with Mrs. Wilcott spouting all the wonderful attributes of her daughter. Heath spoke about his plans to open the brewery, which was met with enthusiasm from everyone.
“If you need investors, let me know. I know some men who might be interested,” Mr. Wilcott said in between bites of beef.
“Thank you, sir. I will keep that in mind.”
After lunch, Miss Wilcott suggested a stroll in the garden. Heath’s leg silently protested the suggestion, but Heath politely accepted. They took their time, with Mrs. Wilcott at a discrete distance behind them as chaperone.
“It was lucky that we came upon you when we did.” The lady gave him a coquettish smile.
“Yes, it was. If we had been a few minutes later, I would have missed this opportunity.” From now on, Heath would take the shortcut across the fields to go home.