Page 41 of Her Magnificent Mistake
“Nay,” he bit out. “How could I, after that?”
So relieved that she forgot to admire the view or the rustic cottage or anything, Marcia barked out a surprised laugh. “Then how do you know he would have disapproved? He loved you like a brother! Why did you not…”
Fight for me.
Dropping her hand, Hawk hitched the basket higher on his shoulder and turned to the cottage—which really was adorable, with its thatch and carved gables and the gnarled oak that stood sentinel near the front door.
Perhaps he’d understood her unspoken question. “I knew ye were grown and Bull wasnae yer keeper. I went to yer home,prepared to ask ye to be mine, but…” He muttered a curse, then took a deep breath and met her eyes. “I heard ye and Bull talking. I heard him announce he’d found the perfect man for ye.”
Marcia frowned, trying to understand when this would have happened.
“And I expected—hoped, perhaps, that ye’d tell yer brother nay.Nay, I’m in love with Hawk,” he bit out. He swallowed and shook his head. “But ye didnae. Ye listened to him list this bastard’s strengths and benefits—honorable, diligent, kind—and ye kept agreeing. Ye wereeagerto wed him, ye said ye wanted to marry him as soon as possible.” Hawk blew out a breath. “Hewas worthy of ye.”
Oh.
Marcia’s eyes had widened throughout this confession, and now? She wasn’t sure if the laugh threatening to burble from her throat was one of helplessness or delight.
Because she’d never forgotten that day, that conversation. That incredible joy, followed by unfathomable desolation when the promised happiness didn’t manifest.
“I love ye, Marcia.” Anguish tightened his expression as he turned back to her. “I kenned I wasnae good enough for ye, but I would’ve asked ye to be my wife, had yer brother no’ found someone more suitable. And ye agreed! Ye claimed ye loved me, and then ye agreed to marry this arsehole?—”
The laugh finally burst free as Marcia stumbled toward him.
Hawk reared back, anguish turning to confusion on his face, as she latched onto his arm. Partly to hold herself up as shechuckled helplessly, partly because shehadto touch him, to remind herself he was real.
“Marcia,” he began. “Do no’ mock?—"
“It was you,” she was finally able to blurt. As he sucked in a surprised breath, she straightened, holding his cheeks in her palms. “Bull was speaking ofyou, Hawk! He suggested I consideryouas a suitor, and sat there and enumerated all the reasons why you would be perfect for me, without realizing ye were there already.”
Hawk stared down at her, standing stock still, eyes wide.
“Do you see?” She shook his head slightly. “He might have teased you, but heknewwe were perfect for each other!”
“I thought…he considered me no’ good enough,” Hawk whispered. “No’ for his little sister, no’ for a daughter of a duke.” The strong column of his throat bobbed as he swallowed, then rasped out, “I was a coward to turn away from the woman I loved.”
Loved.
He loved her then, and he loved her still! That’s what he’d said. With a delighted gasp, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down to hers.
He loved her.He loved her!
This kiss, here beside the burn, this wasn’t a seduction.
Wasn’t for the investigation or the Crown or even Bull.
This kiss was forher.
She wanted this. Wanted him.
He still loved her!
CHAPTER 7
Hawk’s heart was slamming against his ribs as the pair of them tumbled into the cottage. Somewhere along the way he’d dropped his hat and the picnic basket—but to be fair, Marcia’s hat had also come loose and lost in their frantic clutching and groping and that kiss in front of the cottage atop the burn.
Dear God, that kiss.
A week ago, he’d come close to claiming her in the gazebo. That was the moment he realized that the time which had passed had no effect on his feelings for her. Not just his love—he’d known that—but his desire.
