Lord of Scoundrels

by Loretta Chase

He studied her face for a long moment. Then his mouth curved into that aggravatingly mocking smile. “I see. You find me irresistible.” “I’ll get over it,” she said. “I’m going home tomorrow.”

“I don’t see how matters could become worse,” he muttered. “I am already besotted with a needle-tongued, conceited, provoking ape leader of a lady.”

Reason told her there must be a typically crack-brained masculine reason for his behavior, and sooner or later she’d figure it out, and it would turn out to have nothing to do with trying to hurt her feelings or make her feel undesirable or any of the other gloomy sensations she was experiencing at the moment.

It’s so refreshing to see Jess recognizing that her worst assumptions aren’t the most likely cause for Dain’s behavior. I loathe miscommunication as the sole trope to rely upon.

Yes, he answered silently. He wanted help. He wanted help being born over again and coming out right this time.

The last birthday present he’d received had come from his mother, when he was eight.

This man is so broken and doesn’t even realize it fully.