A Little Bit Sinful Read Online Free Page B

serious.”
    “The only way you’ll be ruined is if someone sees your face.”
    “Well, I can’t very well hide my face.” She tried to look out into the exhibit hall to see if the woman was still there, but they were so far into the darkened corridor, she couldn’t see.
    “No, but I can.” He leaned down and kissed her.
    His lips were softer than she was anticipating. His hand cradled her neck, and for the briefest of moments, Clarissa forgot everything. Forgot who she was, who she was supposed to be, and most certainly where they were. Instead, she focused on the brush of his lips against hers, the tender way he held her. Her eyes fluttered closed and she clutched her hands to his arms.
    He deepened the kiss and she slid her arms up around his neck, perfectly contented to be kissing here in this darkened corridor without a notion of who could be watching them.
    The voices in the exhibit area faded and Justin pulled back. “I think everyone has left that hall,” he said.
    Clarissa blinked up at him. “Thank you.”
    He grinned. “You need not thank me for that.”
    …
    Good heavens.
    Now as she and Aunt Maureen sat in the carriage traveling home, Clarissa’s knees were still a bit shaky from Justin’s kiss. Maureen was rattling on about something that had occurred at the museum, but all Clarissa could think about was that kiss. Luckily no one had seen them. The room had been completely empty when they’d stepped out of the darkened corridor. Still, the thought of being caught in Justin’s arms shot a thrill of excitement though her body.
    Her lips still tingled. She brought a finger to them, but they didn’t feel any different to the touch. Did they, perhaps, appear different? She smiled at her aunt, but the woman didn’t seem to notice, merely continued talking.
    She still didn’t know why Justin had sought her out tonight let alone what had made him kiss her. She had never even considered that he might be tempted to do such a thing. George certainly never had. Nor had any other gentleman. Well, except for Harry Parsons, but they’d been all of seven at the time and he’d mostly just mashed his lips upon hers. It hadn’t been exciting for either of them and they’d agreed on the spot to never do such a thing again.
    “Clarissa, dear, did you hear me?” Aunt Maureen said.
    “What?” Clarissa looked up and across the carriage to her aunt. The inside lantern lit the space and illuminated the older woman’s face. She looked at Clarissa expectantly. “No, my apologies, Aunt Maureen, I’m afraid my mind was elsewhere. It was such an exhilarating exhibit. What did you say?”
    Maureen’s features softened. “I’m glad you enjoyed the exhibit, dear. Was the manuscript as magnificent as you expected?”
    It had been and yet Beethoven’s creation paled in comparison to Justin’s kiss. “Indeed,” was all Clarissa could manage.
    “Very good. As I was saying your brother and Miss March, well, I suppose I cannot call her that now that they’re married. They’re coming home tomorrow. We’ll be hosting a small dinner party upon their return.”
    “That should be nice,” Clarissa said.
    The kiss aside, it had been quite fortuitous seeing Justin tonight. His presence had solved one of her problems. She’d been wondering who could assist her in her charade as Mr. Bembridge and then the perfect answer had nearly fallen in her lap, as it were.
    Justin Rodale.
    He was a man known in social circles, even accepted, for the most part. He certainly didn’t owe her any favors, but she knew she could trust him. It appeared it was once again time to pay him a visit. This time though she’d avoid any would-be scandals by not going to his gaming hell, she’d go directly to his house.
    …
    The mantle clock chimed midnight and Justin looked up for the first time in two hours. He stood, stretched his back, and walked the length of his office twice. He’d been going over the quarterly records for Rodale’s