Page 77 of The Unplanned Wedding

He seems surprised at my observation, then a gleam of interest filters into his eyes. "And what about me?"

"What about you?"

"Is that the route you take with me as well?" His eyes gleam. "Is that how you try to handle me? By pretending you're not overwhelmed by my personality?"

"Who says I’m overwhelmed by your charisma?"

"You admit noticing my charisma?" He smirks.

I toss my head. "I’m not going to admit to anything. That'd only inflate your already Texas-sized ego."

He chuckles. The sound catches at my nerve-endings. It’s such a warm, masculine sound that I can’t stop myself from shivering.

He frowns. "Are you cold?"

"No, I’m?—"

He presses a button set into the door and talks into the intercom to the chauffeur. "Turn up the temperature on the heater and also the seat warmer.”

He turns to me, "You'll feel more comfortable in no time.”

"Thanks." I swallow, unused to this considerate side of him. It’s such a sea-change from the man I first met in his office, I’m trying to reconcile the two.

"What?" He frowns.

"Nothing, I…" I shake my head. "You seem different, more relaxed."

His forehead furrows. "It’s only… Now that I’m not following Arthur’s plan, I realize the extent to which I wasn’t comfortable with it. I’m sorry I put you through that," he murmurs.

I stare.

“Why are you so surprised by my apology?” He knits his brows. “It’s not the first time I've apologized, either.”

“It’s not, but I’m taken aback, all the same,” I admit.

His eyes spark with anger at that. "Do you think I’m incapable of admitting when I make a mistake?"

I eye him warily. "Honestly? Yes."

He holds my gaze for a few seconds, then blows out a breath. "You’re right, and I thank you for your candor."

"You’re welcome," I murmur, surprised, again, that we’re having such a normal conversation. It’s as if getting married has changed something in him. He feels less like that unapproachable, angry, insisting-on-getting-his-way-all-the-time man. He seems more human. Or perhaps it’s because I know him better.

"I realize, I can sometimes be an arse."

"Sometimes?" I say lightly.

"Most of the time," he concedes. "And I truly am sorry that I put both you and Priscilla through that sham of a non-engagement."

It’s so uncharacteristic to hear him sounding anything less than completely confident of himself that I have to ask, "Why did you do it, then?"

He looks away for a long moment, and when he glances back at me, his gaze is hot. "I thought it was the best way to protect you."

"Protect me?" I bite the inside of my cheek. "From what?"

"From me," he responds.

"Sorry, you’re not making any sense. I admit, you are unreasonable, and demanding, and pigheaded, not to mention, irrational and often bigoted, but you’re not dangerous."

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