Page 70 of In Want of a Wife
“I’m afraid I must go, dear fellow, though I wish I could take you with me. I fear Mari would miss you, so stay you must.” She bent down and scratched Finn’s ears and gave him a big kiss on the head.
Rafe had never been so jealous of a dog in his life.
“Miss Abrams, I am so glad to have met you, and I must say, though early, welcome to the family.” His mother drew Lily in for a hug as he climbed into the carriage and reached back for her.
“I adore it here. Thank you for allowing me to stay and for being so welcoming.”
“I have packed plenty of scones and some fruit, so Rafe won’t be so peckish.”
Lily giggled, hesitating by the carriage door.
“Lily, it’s time to leave.”
“Unfortunately.” She placed her hand in his, then gasped. They both looked down and spotted the ring on her finger. She hadn’t taken it off. And he hadn’t noticed, hadn’t even checked the ring box since last night.
She dropped her gaze, her cheeks pink with the most erotic blush.
He pulled her into the carriage, and she settled across from him on the bench seat before the carriage rattled off. She waved to his mother and Mari until they were over the hill and well out of sight.
Then she settled back against her seat and lolled her head back to gaze at him, a sad, soft smile on her face.
“I will miss it there.”
I will miss you,he thought.
But he couldn’t start thinking that, not yet.
“You are so far away.” Lily reached her hand out. “It is only us until we reach the next stop. Will you sit with me?”
He moved around the carriage and settled into the corner with his long legs stretched across to the other seat. His eyes burned from lack of sleep, but he didn’t wish to miss a moment with her.
She settled against him, smelling of lemon curd and the sea, tethering him back to the memories of last evening and how they had played in the surf.
Lily placed her hand on his thigh, and a current raced up his body, thrilled at her touch. Oh, how she completely undid him. And he wanted more.
“I suppose you packed the ring box.”
“Hmm.”
With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder. “I guess I should keep it on until we reach the inn. I don’t wish to lose it.”
“Right.” He leaned his head up against the side of the carriage, her weight resting against him, and they drifted off to sleep.
Lily awoketo the afternoon sun hiding behind dark clouds that were chasing the carriage, then rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Rafe stretched, smiling down at her, so completely at peace. Her heart thumped in her chest at the warmth in his hazel eyes. For her.
Rafe gazed at Lily with such honest vulnerability. It felt as if he was the only person who ever truly looked at her and saw her for herself, not for someone they wished she was. Not as if she was some burden to hide and run away from.
A clap of thunder rumbled in the distance.
“I hope we are close to the next inn.”
She sat up and looked behind them, staring down a powerful summer thunderstorm.
“Lily?”
“Hmm?”
She pivoted in her seat, bracing her hand on the window so she didn’t topple completely onto Rafe.
