An Honourable Rake — Elizabeth Reed

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 4,716).

Jessica realises she got it all so very wrong! She thought she was in love with Jeremy and he with her, only to find that he has eyes only for her best friend Isabel.
And she would have gone on to reveal her hurt feelings at Jeremy and Isabel's engagement party had it not been for her childhood friend and neighbour Christopher, the Earl of Manning, intervening to save her from making an embarrassment of herself as he makes his own proposal.
Now Jessica is even more confused! Why did Christopher come so willing to her aid, and why is he suddenly looking and acting so out of character with her? Jessica had always taken Christopher as a self-confessed rake, but it seems now that he has undergone a change of heart, one that makes her see him in a completely different light.
And it is not long before a strong desire grows between them, a desire that must eventually reach its climax!