Excerpt of Rules of Passion by Sara Bennett

1845, Aphrodite's Club, London

Miss Greentree was certainly an unusual woman.

Max realized that she was staring back at him, warily, watchfully. And no wonder. They were standing very close, and the scent of her, the look of her, was heating his blood. He had come here tonight on a whim, for some distraction, to try and forget his troubles. For one night at least it would be pleasant to have a woman in his arms who made no mention of the scandal his life had become, who would pretend he was just an ordinary gentleman--a desirable gentleman and not one to avoid at all costs.

Miss Greentree might be irritating and pert, but suddenly Max knew that he wanted her. She was here to sell her services, whatever he had previously believed to the contrary, and he was here to buy them. Why was he hesitating?

Max wasn't a man to make snap decisions, far from it, but he made one now.

"Miss Greentree, are you free for this evening?"

"This evening?" Marietta goggled at him. Did he mean, could he mean . . . ? But of course he meant what she thought he meant! He was about to proposition her--she felt light-headed with a combination of shock and triumph.

Max's jaw had tightened. "No, I've changed my mind."

He didn't want her after all! Marietta gave a sigh of relief, and ignored the little jolt of chagrin. "Well, I didn't like to embarrass you, Max, but I'm only here--"

"I've changed my mind about the evening," he went on, talking over her attempts at an explanation. "I want you for the entire night."

"Oh," she gasped. "I don't know . . . That's very flattering, Max. I hope . . . Maybe the evening would be more sensible. I mean, what if I was no good at . . . at it, and you had to ask for your money back. Awfully embarrassing for us both. Although I'm sure it's something you get better at, with . . . with practice. Although my own is limited and . . . and . . ."

He laughed as if he didn't particularly want to but he just couldn't help it. "Miss Greentree--"

Marietta. My name is Marietta."

"Marietta. Enchanting." He gave her a small perfunctory bow. "To answer your question, I think that the physical attraction between two people depends on a great many things and none of them are easily--"

"Well I think one glance is often enough."

Of course she had decided views on this, as with everything. She was looking at him as if she expected him to argue, so he did.

"Nonsense," Max said mildly.

Her pretty mouth quirked. "Do you feel a physical attraction for me, Max?"

"You're direct, aren't you?" he retorted. "Yes, Marietta, I do feel a physical attraction for you."

"I must say I am flattered, Max. An entire night. Is that the way these bargains are normally sealed? A simple yes or no on my part? Or do you require a sampling first?"

A sampling? His imagination took flight.