Page 54 of The Duke's Hellion

“My God, Mimi. I love the dog, but I—” He stopped himself. He knew what he was going to say, and his lips were shocked into silence. How long had his heart known how it felt? At what point had it made up its mind? And why had it taken so long to send the message to his head? She had always been so vexing to him, was that only because he thought he couldn’t have her? Shouldn’t have her? He never trusted himself to love someone until her. It had all happened so fast, one minute he thought her irritating, and the next she had been irresistible. There was no turning back. She was beyond incredible.

“What?” Her lips parted, and he wanted to kiss her.

“I love you more.”

“You do?” The hope in her eyes told him what he hadn’t acknowledged, but what he had longed to know. He was desperate to know how she felt about him.

“I do.” He reached in and pulled her out of the doghouse. He swept her up into his arms and spun around, nuzzling his lips into her hair as the rain dripped down on them. This woman was the most fearless, most beautiful, most lovable hellion he had ever known. Acting his most reckless, he had almost dueled over her. But that was because he thought he could lose her.

There was no way he would ever lose her. He would love her senseless before that ever happened.

“I should have done this earlier,” he mumbled into her neck.

“What? Tell me you love me?”

“If I had known that earlier, I would have told you. But I also mean this,” he spun around again, “hold you in my arms, spinning you around. When you won the tournament. I should have celebrated you more. I will celebrate you every day for the rest of our lives.”

She leaned in and kissed his mouth. Pure delight soaked through him.

“I can’t believe you love me.”

“I can’t believe it either. But I do.” He smiled at the love of his life. His forever.

“I almost trapped you as part of the duke dare, but I knew I couldn’t do that to you,” Mimi said with her hand on his chest.

“What duke dare?”

“The one my sisters and I agreed to. We would each find a duke this season to marry.”

“Well, you found one, and technically you did trap me.”

“Not intentionally.” He could see the honesty in her eyes, and he loved her more for it. She was not the kind to be manipulative.

“That’s good to know. It makes a difference.”

“It makes all the difference in the world. I would never do that to you, Sam. You’re a good man. One of the best, in fact.”

His feelings felt like clotted cream. She thought he was a good man? One of the best?

Then again, that’s what Mimi did. By being the best version of herself, she called out others to be better. If they answered the call, they would rise with her. Just like in the archery tournament. She didn’t let up. Even though she was a lady, and it was expected of her to be meek. No one would have faulted herif she missed the target altogether and giggled away her actions. But no, not Mimi. She stood tall, focused, determined to win. And then she did. She gave her all, and bested them all.

And when they danced in the rain, yes many guests had run inside, but several had turned back and stayed outside and danced with them. Each savoring the moment. Because of her.

By being her best self, others became better.

That’s what she was doing to him.

“And how do you feel about me, Mimi?”

“I love you, Sam.” Whenever Mimi spoke quietly like that, it reverberated through his bones, as though he felt the words and didn’t just hear them.

“If you love me, you would be dramatic about it. You would shout it at the top of your lungs.”

She grinned, dropped her head back and shouted into the rain, “I love you!”

Not to be out done, he bellowed, “I love you more!”

And perhaps they would have stayed and danced in the rain again, this time knowingly in love, but a soft bark sounded from the doghouse, causing them both to laugh.

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