“For what?” he asked with surprise. “I didn’t bring the food. Bet did.”

She smiled faintly at his confusion and explained, “Not for that. For . . . well, everything else,” she said wryly. “For coming for me at Mrs. Morgan’s. For looking out for me since then and for chasing after that man tonight. I know I have given you a hard time, but I do appreciate it. I guess my pride was just hurting a bit after that business in the carriage. But you were right,” she rushed on when he would have interrupted. “While I had a crush on you while growing up, we have been too close for too long ever to turn our relationship into anything more than one resembling siblings. Now, I can’t even imagine you kissing me or caressing my cheek the way Charlie did the other night. The very idea is laughable.”

Standing up, Lisa moved around the table to bend and kiss his cheek, then straightened and moved to the bed, undoing and removing her robe as she went.

“Good night, Robert,” she finished around a yawn. “I hope you sleep well. I certainly shall, knowing you are here, just a shout away, to watch over me.”

She then slid into bed, pulled the covers up to her chin, and closed her eyes.

Robert stared at the bed for several minutes, her words replaying themselves in his head. She couldn’t even imagine him kissing or caressing her as Findlay had? Well, he bloody well could. And he’d have done a damned sight better job than the tepid efforts he’d witnessed from Findlay at the ball the night before, he thought.

But it was a fleeting thought. His mind was full of the image of the way her robe and gown had gaped as she’d bent to kiss his cheek. He’d seen damned near all the way down to her belly button as she’d done it, though he was sure she had no clue of the view he’d had. And then when she’d tugged off her robe to crawl into bed, the neckline had dropped off on one side, revealing a good expanse of one creamy shoulder. Now she was lying there, not more than a few feet away, naked but for a thin nightgown, completely unconcerned that a red-blooded male was still sitting there. And he was red-blooded. That blood was pulsing through his body hot and strong right then.

But did Lisa care? Hell no. It seemed she’d decided he was right and she was better off with one of those addlepated idiots who had been fawning over her the last few days.

Damn. She was going to be the death of him if he didn’t get this business resolved soon and get away from her, he thought grimly and stood to quickly gather the tray and carry it from the room.