Rowan could feel himself falling deeper into whatever ditch Delaney dug up for him.
He could hear his thoughts screaming a the top of their lungs. " This was a violation of the rules. This was crossing the line. Dukes did not flirt with their staff. Employers did not ogle the help."
And worse, if he admitted he thought she was beautiful, he would have to admit that he had been staring at her mouth for the last thirty seconds. He never noticed she had such soft looking lips. That was definitely scandalous.
He needed to cover it up. He needed to say something else. Anything else. He needed to be the "Golden Duke" again. He needed to be aloof and critical.
He scrambled for a word. Any word.
He looked at her dress. It was teal. It was bright. It wasn't gray.
Color. Bright. Food. What is teal and bright and definitely a food? Why am I thinking about food? What is wrong with me?
His brain misfired completely.
