She folded her hands in her lap, her feet perfectly flat on the floor before her. The prim gesture was very much at odds with her decadent gown. “Devon, I am not an adventuresome woman. I don’t believe you should—”

“Nonsense. You are very adventuresome. You live here, alone except for the company of your servants and seven scowling giants. You are building a business that by all accounts is getting to be extremely profitable. And you can ride like an angel. How much more adventuresome do you need to be?”

Kat bit her lip. She’d never really thought of herself that way before but…he was right; she did take risks. Only not with her heart.

She was trying to figure out how to say this when he stood.

From her chair, Kat immediately leaned away, too aware of his proximity and her own lack of clothing.

“I am just going to get a drink of water,” he said in a calming voice. “May I?”

Her cheeks heated. She didn’t mean to overreact, but she was too nervous to think. “Of course. Pray help yourself.”

She watched from beneath her lashes as he went to where Annie kept a pitcher and glasses. Devon poured himself a glass of water. Then he turned and leaned against the low edge of the dresser.

He finished the water and set the glass on the dresser, his eyes wandering over Kat. “That’s a lovely gown,” he said, his voice low and deep.

She had to fight the urge to shiver. The silk night rail had been a gift from Malcolm. Kat sometimes wondered if he’d perhaps ordered it for Fiona, but when it had arrived, it had been too large for her petite frame and thus it had been passed on to Kat. However it was, she loved the feel of the silk against her skin and she wore it often. Of course, she’d never worn it in front of anyone else, and she now found herself achingly aware of every inch of fabric that hugged her bare skin.

Devon absently picked up her white scarf from where she’d placed it earlier. He ran it through his hands. “I am intrigued by you.”

“By me? Why?”

“Because you are such an interesting mixture of vulnerability and bravery. I wonder what I can do to prove to you that I am worth trusting.”

“If we had several years to debate it, it is quite possible I might eventually come to do so. But you will be leaving soon.”

Devon nodded but didn’t reply. He was looking at the scarf, a strange expression on his face.

“Kat,” he said, his gaze still on the scarf, “I think I know how to prove myself to you.” He draped the scarf over his arm and walked toward her.

Her heart thudded faster. “What…what are you doing?”