Page 28 of How to Tempt an Earl

She blinked. He looked magnificent. Breathtaking. He would draw all the ladies’ eyes. She could imagine a majordomo announcing him at the top of the ballroom stairs. Ladies would glance at him behind fluttering fans and whisper about his handsomeness. Men would glare at him with ill-disguised envy.

From Ian’s arrogant stance, he knew all of this.

A wicked instinct took over, and she wanted to knock his arrogance down a notch. “Somewhat acceptable.”

One dark eyebrow shot upward. “Somewhat?”

She raised her chin, and her gaze roved to the dark locks that brushed his collar. “You need a haircut.”

His lips twitched in amusement. “You’re hard to please.”

“You didn’t hire me to please you.”

Dark eyes lowered to her lips. “Oh, I know that all too well.”

Oh, he was a devil.

Brooks cleared his throat from behind them. “She’s right. Your hair is too long.”

Without breaking eye contact with Grace, Ian issued an order. “Fetch the shears, Brooks.”

Brooks hesitated. “You sure?”

“Very.”

Brooks nodded and departed.

“You want Brooks to cut your hair? Or don’t tell me that you mean to cut it yourself?” Grace asked.

“No. I mean for you to cut it,” he said.

Her defiance slipped. Her gaze returned to the dark hair that had reminded her of a raiding pirate the first moment she’d seen him on the gaming floor of the Raven Club. “Me? But I’ve never performed such a task. Not even for my young brother.”

“So? How difficult can it be?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I could accidently shear you like a sheep.”

“I’ll take my chances. You aren’t scared, are you?”

He was challenging her. She knew it and should refuse to be goaded, but she found herself capitulating. “Fine, but you are not permitted to complain afterward.”

Brooks returned with the shears.

“Give them to the lady. She will do the deed.”

A flicker of amusement crossed the large man’s face as he looked from Grace to Ian. “You sure about this, Castleton?” Brooks asked.

“Don’t call me that.”

“My lord.”

Ian gritted his teeth. “That, either.”

Brooks was clearly enjoying himself at Ian’s expense. “Pardon, Mr. Swift.”

Ian scowled.

“The first two forms of address were correct,” Grace said.