My Dangerous Rogue, Paula Wong [best books to read for self improvement TXT] 📗

all he said as he came back into his room, putting on his overcoat and exiting out of the door without saying another word.
She sat quietly at the bed, putting her comb on the fabric sheets. Letting out a painful sigh, she got up and sat on the chair, her hand on her chin. A growl rose in her stomach. Well maybe she was lying about her not starving part but she’ll be damned if he let her know that she is really hungry right now.
Some vows are meant to be broken, his words repeated in her mind. Why had he had insisted to wed her? Was it because of responsibility? Or was it something else?
She wondered if her decision was wrong. Knowing Richard, he would marry her because of his responsibility. Even her, she would have said yes because of responsibility.
But she wondered, why hadn’t she wanted to marry him? He is handsome and a dashing prince. A man any woman would want. Loretta isn’t in love with him in any way. She doesn’t have a feeling towards him.
And yet she wanted him to protect her.
The fire on the fireplace cracked, it startled her, staring at the fire she imagined their love making. It was passionate, filled with emotions that consumed them both. Especially her.
“You fool,” she mumbled to herself. “Never should you feel for a rogue. Unless you want pain,”
It was true as well. Rumors of the ton said that all the rogues will only use their woman to bed. Never will they develop any compassionate feeling towards them. They only wed for one thing, sex. She would have lied when she said that she doesn’t like sex. Odd as it sound coming from her, she actually liked it.
Heat made its way up her neck and settled on her face. What an embarrassing thing to think! No one, especially not a proper woman would ever like sex. That is very wrong.
More memories flooded in her mind.
It stopped until Drew, her old lover and fiancé, appeared.
Yes, she had loved before. She loved Drew like he was her lifeline. But everything changed when he had cheated her for her best friend, Aurora. Yes, as beautiful as her name, Aurora was the woman in Drew’s dreams. That was his excuse when she found Aurora in his bed, just before their wedding day. She was young, inexperienced, and blind. She should have seen it coming and yet she did not want to believe it. Loretta does admit that she was reckless not being able to foretell it in the past. Apparently, they had been feeling that way on the day she had meant Drew. Aurora was the one who had presented her to him. Ironic was, she was the one who took him from her.
Since then Aurora and Drew had been trying to apologize to her. It has been eight years since then, and yet the memory of them together was still imbedded in her mind. Rumors from the ton had said that they married and are living happily together with three children of their own.
Immature love, was what her mother said and she was right. They were only the age of eighteen.
Now fully grown, she vowed she will never hurt the way she had been hurt back then. What better way for her not to hurt by not falling in love? Eight years she trained herself to be unreadable. Since then, only three people had been able to see through her defenses; Jane, Vivian, and William. They read her like a book.
She knew that all of the members can. They had just been hiding the fact that they know every ounce of her emotions.
And it frustrates her.
Loretta exhaled a breath as the room still remained quiet. She heard nothing except for the sound of her own heartbeat and the fire in the hearth.
She feels absolutely jaded. It felt like hours even though it had been minutes when Richard had left the room. But still that same statement lay in her mind.
Why does he bother her so?
He affects her in a way that she hadn’t even been affected before. Indeed she had Drew, but he never had treated her the way Richard treated her now. He was a gentleman. Until he had chosen another.
It had been two hours, she thought checking her pocket watch. What could Richard be doing? He had said that he departed to fetch supper. Quickly standing up, Loretta retrieved her cloak, tying it around her neck.
She hurriedly put her heels on and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. Wooden boards surrounded the whole hallway, including the doors and rooms. The inn smelled like fresh cut trees, its aroma strong and powerful. Dim light surrounded it, shadows in every corner that the light didn’t reach.
As soon as she made it to the inn desk, a woman was standing there, she was well built. From what she can see, the woman wasn’t of the ton. “Excuse me, can you direct me toward the dining room?” Loretta asked politely.
The woman nodded and a sudden blush spread across her cheek. “My name is Helena. The dining room is not too far from here. But let me warn you miss. There’s a man in there. Real good looking you see. A hunk. Attracted a good deal of ladies,”
At first, she didn’t know what Helena meant but as soon as they entered the dining room, her heart started to ache at the sight of Richard. He was splayed on the chair, his feet on the table, passionately kissing another woman.
Helena shook her head and leaned closer to her to whisper something in her ear. “That’s Matilda. Poor man seemed that he had fallen for the wrong gal. Matilda has a reputation about the man she had slept with. Broken hearts, is what I’ve been told.”
Loretta clenched her dressing gown, unable to look away from the horrid sight. She had felt like a total and complete fool about rethinking his proposal. It seemed like he was content with her rejection. Slowly, she trembled, suddenly growing pale white, whiter than her own skin.
“Are ye alright Ms.?” The woman asked worriedly, her gaze fixed on Loretta’s unwell features. “You do look like you are about to faint,”
“It’s alright,” A voice said behind her, warm hands clasped cold shoulder. “I have her,”
Helena nodded and walked away slowly before looking back to look at this man and continuing to walk again.
“Now tell me, what is a woman like you doing in place like this? Lady Chase,” She grasped this man’s shirt, not knowing what else to do. “Please take me away,” she whispered, her eyes closed, hands trembling. “Take me away from here,”
The stranger nodded and pulled her out of the room and into the hallway. She leaned against the wall for support, afraid that her knees would give out on her. Why did that bastard man affect her so? Curse these treacherous feelings. “Thank you for that,” she whispered looking up at the stranger, her eyes suddenly widening at the realization. It was Alden, her very own childhood friend. His features strikingly handsome as ever. His blonde hair splayed on his head, clear blue eyes looking down at her with concern. He had changed since the last time she had seen him. Three years ago if she can remember. He used short and lean. Now he was quite the opposite. He was tall and built.
“It seemed you needed saving there Lottie,” he said softly. Lottie, god it has been forever since she had heard of that nickname. He used to call her that all of the time, every time they were together. Breathless she blinked. It must be a dream. He is supposed to be in France, where his family had settled.
“Alden,” she whispered and laughed, reaching up to hug him, hard. For both comfort and relief.
“What are you doing here?”
“My business in London is the reason why I am here. Father could not attend so I indeed had no choice but to attend in his place. The business is done now so I will have to go back to France,” he exclaimed, returning her hug, his arms around her waist.
“But what are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I came here to assist you. Your mother and father had already given me all of the information I needed. I will help with the search of little Anne.”
Wash of relief went through her. She won’t have to do this alone, with Richard. Alden will be here with her, helping her through step of the way. At least she can be comfortable now.
“But what about your family?”
“They will be fine without me for a couple of weeks. I am a grown man Lottie, please remember that,”
Loretta laughed and nudged him on the shoulder, finally pulling away. “I know I am still surprised indeed.”
“So who was that man? You had looked so upset that you really did look like you were about to faint.” Then he smirked. “I am guessing a lover,”
She shook her head rather fast. “No- just- just a friend of mine,”
“It does not look that way to me but alright,” Alden said softly, his hand on her back. She realized that he was supporting her from falling on the ground. Were her knees really that weak? Damn it to hell, she must look pathetic right now.
“Would you accompany me to my room? We have plenty to talk about,” she said smiling.
Her childhood friend happily nodded and escorted her back to her room, showing her the way. She opened the door and led him inside. Then her gaze looked over to the open closet. With a few strides, she closed it, not even forgetting to lock it.
“So tell me Alden? Where do we start?” she asked smiling, heading over to the table where he was sitting.


Richard pulled away from the lady’s grasp, ignoring her sudden gasp. “What is wrong my lord?” She asked softly, smiling, licking her lips.
Damn it, this is not working. Every time he kisses a woman, he always see her. Why? Has he gone mad?
He put his hand on his forehead, rubbing the temples softly before grabbing the woman again, kissing her sweetly. She responded eagerly. He pulled away yet again. That damned woman cursed him. She had put a spell on him, that is what’s wrong with him.
Richard took out his pouch of coins and handed a couple of gold to her. “Here, this would cover it all. Now get the hell away from me,”
The woman smiled happily and left him without saying another word. He got out of the seat and looked around. A particular woman, the innkeeper, was looking at him suspiciously.
“If you have something to say lady, then say it.” He replied watching her frustratingly.
“I have nothing to say except you sir are a total ill-mannered man,” she said furiously. “I do not care if you are wealthy and have power. How dare you see another woman while you are married to another. You sir, are a disgrace,”
“What the hell are you talking about woman?” Richard asked tired of this person’s language and word. He is not in the mood to play nice.
“I am talking about that nice lady coming here, seeing you. She was hurting. Indeed I saw that. That nice gentleman had to escort her out of here, having to support her. Now do you not even feel ashamed of yourself?”
He raised a brow and immediately taking hold of her shoulders. “What in