Quill was standing just in front of her, delivering his little lecture. Gabby had the oddest wish that he would put his arms around her. She must be demented. Hoping for an embrace from her future brother-in-law? It was just that—Gabby’s common sense came to the rescue. Quill was an uncommonly handsome man. His eyes made her feel weak in the knees and warm in the belly.

The problem, Gabby rationalized, is that Father never allowed me to have anything to do with men. So now I am overcome by the species in general. And for the first time, she wished that Peter hadn’t traveled to Bath. Because she had never been kissed by a man.

Quill had paused and was waiting for her to reply.

Gabby nervously chewed on her lower lip. The look in his eyes couldn’t be described as amusement, precisely.

“Gabby,” Quill said, his voice dark with—with something.

She swayed a bit and his large hands steadied her shoulders. In a second she could be in his arms, Gabby realized.

“I…I …” She fell silent, struck by a fiery wave of rebellion. She wanted a kiss. She didn’t want to be an un-kissed person for one more second.

“My mother died at my birth, and my father is not a demonstrative man,” she said, looking at Quill’s lips.

“Yes?” Quill’s thumbs had begun a small massage just at the base of Gabby’s collarbone.

Gabby shivered.

Quill was well-aware that Gabby had not told him the truth about her afternoon’s errand. Hoare’s Bank indeed. There was something about Gabby’s eyes that gave her away when she was fibbing. Just now those beautiful eyes were looking at him in a way that made his blood rage in his veins. She couldn’t mean that look. It was not an innocent look.

And then she swayed toward him, and he smelled jasmine again. Without a second’s thought, Quill’s mouth came down on Gabby’s lips as softly as a dandelion clock floats to the ground, as sweetly as a mother’s lips brush the head of her babe.

Gabby closed her eyes and stood stock-still, arms at her sides.

She tasted better than she smelled. Quill pulled her closer. His hands slid down toward the magnificent curve of her bottom.

“Put your arms around my neck, Gabby,” he whispered.

“All right,” Gabby said, sounding surprised. “This is very enjoyable,” she whispered back.

“Be quiet, Gabby.” Quill’s deep voice sent a tremor down her spine. And when she opened her mouth to respond to him, he took advantage of her open lips. Tenderness was replaced by a fierce demand, by a craving, hungry request.