Excerpt of Everything Forbidden by Jess Michaels

“I realize I was not expected.” Miranda jammed her shaking
hands together behind her back in the hopes she could
somehow erase her nervousness.

“Nor invited,” he interjected with a wide grin that seemed
to flow over his entire handsome face. “But I did not say
it was an unpleasant surprise. I do admit, I’m quite
curious as to the reason for your call. Would you care to
enlighten me?”

She shifted nervously, staring at the open door. Why hadn’t
he come inside?

“Er, it is a delicate matter I wish to discuss,” she
stammered. “I would rather the servants did not hear.”

Rothschild tilted his head and looked at her closely. There
was something about the way he was examining her. Like he
wasn’t sure if he should eat her or indulge her. She wasn’t
sure which option she preferred.

“My servants have no ears, my dear,” he finally said and
remained in the doorway.

She frowned. “All servants have ears, my lord, even when
they pretend they do not. You know that as well as I do.”

“I had forgotten that you are a sharp little minx, too.”

He smiled again, wolfish, but it was as if the comment were
more for himself than her. She folded her arms across her
chest as a barrier.

“Will you not close the door?” she asked, tilting her chin
with pride.

His grin became less genuine. “No, my dear, I will not. I
won’t have your Mama saying I ruined you and demanding I
take your hand in marriage. I won’t be trapped, if that is
what you came here for.”

She moved forward without thinking. “How dare you! Of
course I didn’t come here to trap you! And my mother has
nothing to do with this!” She stopped. “Well, she does, but
only indirectly. She certainly did not send me here as part
of some scheme.”

He leaned back to examine her. “Sharp, saucy and beautiful,
too. It is a pity.” He seemed to ponder her statement for a
moment, then shrugged as he stepped into the room and shut
the door behind him. “Very well. But recognize that if you
are lying, I won’t marry you to salvage any blemish to your
reputation. If you create a situation for yourself, you
will live with the consequences.”

If Miranda hadn’t been so nervous, she might have laughed.
Dear God, the man had no idea what she was about to
propose. Well, he was too smug and self-assured for his own
good anyway. It might be entertaining to see him completely
shocked.

Terrifying. But entertaining...