“What book do you want? I can help you find it if you like.”
Dorothy stared after him with her mouth open.
“Don’t you ever give up?”
“I’m just trying to be nice to you, Dorothy. Am I not allowed to do that?”
“Given the history between us, I’m not sure.”
Lucas knew he deserved that. He held up his hands.
“I promise you that I won’t do anything untoward. Just let me help you. Then we can both go back to bed and try to sleep.”
Dorothy looked like she was going to argue with them. She was also adjusting the neckline of her nightgown. Lucas wished she wouldn’t do that; he was now staring at her breasts, and it wasn’t helping him try to control his arousal.
Growling, he turned away.
“Are you alright?” Dorothy asked.
“What? I’m fine.” Lucas didn’t turn back as he went over to another bookcase, running his fingers over the spines. “What are you looking for? More on art or something else?”
“I don’t know. Maybe just something that jumps out at me. I’m too tired to explore too much.”
Lucas heard a rustling of clothing and saw Dorothy stand beside him. He felt the skirt of her nightgown brushing against his legs. Why did it feel like she had done it intentionally? He subtly moved away, turning to her. She was running a long finger down the spine of one book as if somehow committing the book to memory without opening it. Lucas watched as she did it to the next book.
An image of her running her fingers like that down his body sent a shiver down his spine, and Lucas couldn’t help shuddering.
“Are you alright?” Dorothy frowned at him. “Are you cold?”
“Oh, no. I’m fine.” Lucas inwardly cursed himself, managing a smile. “Don’t worry about me. Are you sure you’re not cold?”
Dorothy’s eyes narrowed. Then she turned away, inspecting the books again. Lucas knew he would have to tread a bit more carefully with her like this. If he were a true gentleman, he would be escorting her back to her room right now and keeping his distance.
And yet he couldn’t do that. Instead, Lucas wandered over to a bookcase across the room. It was the only way he could put distance between them and still be in the same room. As he inspected the books, trying to make himself useful, he wondered what had happened to him. It felt like he had turned into a simpering fool. It was embarrassing. If Pierce could see him now …
He wouldn’t hear the end of it.
“What were you reading?”
“Hmm?”
Dorothy glanced over at him as she reached the end of the shelf.
“What book did you return? Something interesting, or were the words too complicated for you?”
Lucas stared at her.
“I can read!”
Something flickered in her eyes, and Lucas realised she was teasing him. She was giving it back to him? Lucas hadn’t expected that.
“I’m sure you can. But you give off the appearance that things are more important than reading books.”
“My reputation would go down if my friends found out I curled up in a corner with a big book in my lap.”
A smile was tugging at her mouth.
“Oh, really? You don’t like the studious appearance?”