The Duke was standing in the middle of the room, his hands in his pockets, his head tilted to one side. It was a relaxed, casual pose, and yet the way he looked at her was anything but casual. The deep midnight of his eyes burned and he radiated a subtle, sensual energy that made the air around him crackle. 

He looked like a man who’d never heard the word ‘no’ in all his life. Unluckily for him, ‘no’ was the only word she had.

“There's no reason why I should stay,” Anna clasped her shaking hands together in an effort to still them. “I’m not marrying you.”

His gaze flickered, his mouth curving slightly, and she had the disturbing thought that far from putting him off, her insistence was only inciting him further.
“But you haven’t heard my proposal yet,” he said mildly. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“I don’t need to hear it. I already know that my answer will be no.”

“Of course. But you can hardly tell your father that you heard me out when you haven’t, in fact, heard me out…. Anna.” 



A LADY FOR A DUKE

Anna leaned forward and rested her elbows on the bar, propping her chin on the backs of her hands. “I’m kinda the same way. Give me a good movie, a bowl of popcorn and a comfy couch to curl into and I’m in heaven.” 


“I’ll watch pretty much anything.” 


Her brow furrowed. “Uh-oh, you have that look. The one you get just before you give me stuff. What did you buy this time?” 


He flashed her a grin. “I didn’t buy you a thing. I promise.” He led her upstairs to the living room, then smiled, “I just thought we could see a movie together, Anna. Nothing crazy,” 


She laughed, “Fine Cedric. What do you want to watch?” 


He simply took a seat and handed her the remote, “Anything you want Anna,” he replied, “Anything you want,” 


71