Page 69 of Harvey

“Why is that?”

“It’s peaceful and lovely, and there is just us.” Her fingers toyed with the hairs on his chest. “And I am afraid you are going to. “Her voice tailed off, but he knew what she had been about to say.

“Revert to being the jerk you are so familiar with?” he concluded quietly. Lifting her chin, he stared into her eyes. “I have been that person for years, and it will be difficult to shed that persona. It’s a defense mechanism I use, and I have used it for years. I will hurt you, Kendra. It does not mean it will be deliberate, but it is instinctive.

I want to protect you and everyone, including myself, from everything. I- you mean everything to me, and this is new – I never had relationships before, never felt the need to put someone’s feelings ahead of mine. But it’s different now.” He bent to press a kiss on her lips. “I want a life with you, and it’s that simple, do you understand?”

“Yes,” She whispered, her heart singing with joy. “I do.”

“Good. When we leave here in the morning, we will go home, and I already asked the maids to move your things into my suite. I have no intention of sleeping away from you again.”

Her body trembled at that, and the emotions swelling inside her could not be controlled. “Harvey.” She breathed his name. “Harvey.” Pulling her chin away, she covered his face with kisses.

She kissed his forehead, his eyes, the tip of his straight nose, his hair roughened cheeks, his chin with the deep indentation and moved to his throat. When she slid further down and started torturing his small nipple with her tongue and teeth, he had to intervene.

“No, baby,” With a groaning laugh, he hauled her on top of him so that she could straddle him. “Enough.” He whispered as he drove deep into her.

*****

They arrived back at the manor after nine the following day.

“I am afraid I have to go.” He told her apologetically as soon as they were inside their suite. The family had already left for the day. “There was an accident on the site, and I am needed.”

“Nothing too bad, I hope.”

“I am not certain.” Taking her into his arms, he kissed her deeply. “I will try to be home for dinner.”

“Am I allowed to call you? I have to go to the store myself.”

“Yes. You are allowed to call me.” He kissed her again before putting her firmly away from him. Later.”

Leaning against the doors, she closed her eyes and felt her knees buckling. She had done it – No- Shaking her head, she gazed upwards.

“You did it, Lord. I cannot take the credit. It’s you, and I am so grateful and blessed that I cannot stand it. I know there will be problems, but I am prepared to face each one calmly because I love him. Thank you.”

Easing off the door, she went to get ready to go to the store.

But he was the one to call. She had jumped in as soon as she arrived and had been busy dealing with several issues that had cropped up during her absence. A regular Monday morning delivery to the cemetery for a man who had lost his wife two years ago had not been done, and she could not blame the people working for her.

For some reason, Mondays were always extremely busy, and the order had slid through the crack.

Mr. Johnson had been understandably furious and disappointed, leaving her with no option but to offer to send the bouquet of red, yellow, and white roses, including oleander and rosemary sprigs, as an apology to appease the irate customer.

It had taken some time to calm him down, but she managed to do so. The bathroom had a leak, which led to the plumber being called, inconveniencing them even more.

She was behind the counter when the phone rang. Plucking it from her apron pocket, she felt a jolt when she saw his name.

“Marge, could you take over? I have to take this.”

Moving away, she went to the back and answered the phone.

“Hi.”

“Hey. I was about to hang up, figured you were swamped.”

His deep voice had her settling. “I am, but I can talk. How about you?”

“Carter broke up his ankle, falling from the bloody roof. His damn fault because he was told not to venture up there. Look, I wanted to take you out to dinner or something, but I have no idea when I will be through here.”

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