James leaned back against the door after it closed, crossed his arms over his exceedingly wide chest, and said to his bemused brother, “How’s it feel, old chap? Least she was still talking to you before she flounced out of here, whereas George ain’t talked to me in a week.”

“Bloody hell,” Anthony growled. “You can stop blaming me. You heard what I said. Wasn’t as if I deliberately took the girls to Knighton’s. Same thing could have happened to you, you know.”

“Beg to differ,” James replied laconically. “I ain’t that bloody stupid.”

Anthony flushed angrily, but it was a bit of guilt that had him retorting, “I like that. You want a piece of me, then? Won’t be satisfied without it? Have at me, then.”

“Don’t mind if I do.”

Chapter 5

THE PROBLEMS THAT AROSE WITH THE STAFF WITH so many guests in the house were typically wearing on Molly, who prided herself on keeping everything running smoothly. So though she wanted to confront Jason about her suspicions, she’d been unable to stay awake long enough last night to wait for him to come to her room.

But he had joined her as usual, and he was still there in her bed when she awoke the next morning. In fact, it was his hand gently caressing her breast and his lips on the side of her neck that woke her. And although she did recall near immediately that she was annoyed with him, she selfishly kept that to herself for the moment and instead turned slightly so that he could better reach the areas of her body that he was showing an interest in.

She sighed and put her arms around him. She did so love this man. Even after more than thirty years, his touch still thrilled her beyond measure, his kisses able to fire her passions just as easily as he’d done in their youth. And she knew she had the same effect on him.

It wasn’t long before they were kissing quite heatedly, and Molly knew where that would lead, which it did. But she was ready for him. She was always ready for him. She supposed that was one of the nicer benefits of loving someone and desiring him as well. And Jason never stinted in his endeavors. His lovemaking was done in no small measure and immensely satisfying—as always.

“Good morning,” he said, leaning back to grin at her once they both regained their composure.

A morning could easily go sour, but he sure knew how to start one off “good.” She returned his grin and then held him extra tight before she released him, perhaps because she knew she was going to scold before they parted, and she wanted to soften the blow.

The rest of his family, aside from their son, saw him as the sternest of the lot, even quite formidable. He was, after all, the head of his family and had had the responsibility of raising his younger siblings when he’d been young himself. But she knew his other side, his charm, his teasing, his tenderness. These were things that, from habit, he restrained in front of others due to his position, but not with her, never with her—except, of course, when they weren’t alone.