Page 410 of Conveniently Wed
Now, his heart squeezed at just the sight of her as she fiddled with her hair. Her long thick braid hung down her back. She stuffed the pins in her mouth, then coiled it into another tight bun and started working the pins back into place.
He patted the seat beside him. “Come here.”
She nodded her head in his direction. “I’ll be right there, just have to fix this mess.”
“Come.” He waved her closer. “I’ll help you.”
Her brows lifted as she shoved in the remaining pins. “What would you know about hair?” At last, she made her way to him and sat, all prim and proper.
He put his hands on her shoulders and twisted her body away from him, ignoring the way she tensed under his touch. “I know how to make your hair look beautiful and be much more comfortable.” He pulled a pin from her bun. Her hands flew to her head, but he gently lowered them to her lap.
With tender care, he removed every pin. Her shoulders lifted and tightened, but she didn’t flee. For his part, having the chance to actually touch her felt like heaven. He untwisted her braid until her glorious head of hair fell long and free down her back. “Doesn’t that feel better?”
The catch of her breath didn’t escape him.
Such beautiful hair. Why did she hide it in that tight bun? The satin silkiness feathered through his fingers as he lifted the weight of the long strands. If only the tension in her body could be unwound as easily as the unplaiting of her hair.
He raised his hands to her temples and slowly massaged. Little by little, her shoulders lowered as she sank into the settee beside him. Her straight back curved, and, when he pulled her back against him, she didn’t pull away.
His chest ached at the feel of her in his arms, leaning against him. How wonderful this was. But, oh, the agony. He lowered his face into her hair, and took a deep breath. The scent of rose water wafted up. It took all he had not to turn her luscious lips toward him.
“I was reading the paper this week and was shocked at the sharp lines drawn between the Southern Paternalism and Northern Capitalism. Do you think we’ll ever get along?” Her voice sounded so unmoved.
He stilled his hands. She couldn’t possibly be thinking politics when he was fighting to control the urge to turn her inhis arms and give in to temptation. Did she feel nothing? He pulled away and swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment.
She turned to him, brows raised as she waited for his answer.
“I’ll have to ponder that one.” Later. Much later, when he could actually think.
“You know what I think?”
“Hmm?” He could barely breathe. A deep loneliness pressed in, sucking the air from the room. Was he destined to be considered no more than a nice man with whom she enjoyed conversation? That would mean no love, no intimacy, no children. The future suddenly looked bleak.
“I think both sides have their strengths and weaknesses, but unless we can admit the weaknesses, we’ll never come together.”
“You’re most likely right.” He stood and moved to stand in front of the fire. “I’m going to retire now. Don’t forget we’re heading into town tomorrow bright and early.”
“But I don’t need?—”
He faced her. “You do need clothing.” He spoke with more clip in his voice than he’d intended. “And what about the riding habit I promised you? Surely you won’t deny me even this small pleasure.” He struggled to keep his tone level, thinking of all the other pleasures he was denied.
“All right.”
“Very well. Be ready by nine.” He had to get out of there before he said something he would regret. “Good night.”
He took the steps two at a time. With the decided click of his bedroom door just short of a slam, he ripped his hands through his hair. He would scream, except she would hear him. He fumbled with the buttons and tore his shirt from his shoulders, flinging it on the bed. With his head bent over the wash bowl he doused his upper body to cool the flame of anger…and a whole lot more.
Katie had disappointed him last evening. Her stomach still flip-flopped at the thought of his closeness. Thankfully, starting that conversation about politics had put an end to where things had been headed. Try as she might, she was not ready.
But she could do everything within her power to give him a nice day.
She climbed into the carriage Abe had pulled up to the front steps and offered Josiah a big smile. He gave her a watered-down version, and silence followed. His usual upbeat banter was absent.
After a while, she glanced his way. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” He patted her knee, then looked out his window.
She wasn’t imagining it. He was upset.
