Page 76 of In Want of a Wife
Steady on, he cautioned himself. One kiss, and she melted any semblance of self-preservation he possessed.
He helped her fasten her dress, and the two of them went downstairs expecting a quiet dining room. But given the rain, a band had set up, and the inn was more than bustling. A fiddler played in the corner as guests cheered and clapped. The barmaid flagged over more help, yelling over the din.
She clutched his hand and leaned against his arm. “I don’t know if we’ll even have a table.”
He leaned down to listen, barely hearing her over the crowd. “I see one, come with me.”
They wove through the crowded room and settled in the corner by the staircase, eventually ordering dinner and two pints of claret.
Dinner arrived, and he swore to himself he would confess. But she had smiled, and he had become distracted, and before long, she was tugging on his hand, urging him to dance.
“I don’t dance,” he declared.
“How boring for you. Please?”
He chuckled the entire way as she pulled him through the crowd, and a country reel filled up the small room.
Perhaps she hadn’t discovered his secret yet, but he’d do nearly anything she asked.
They joined the dancing for some time, skipping and turning merrily about the room. And all the while as he watched her laugh, he was thankful for the rain and for their time together. And terrified of what was to come.
“I have to tell you something,” he said, ducking his head next to her ear.
“Pardon?”
Rafe pulled her back to where they had eaten, tucked away by the stairs. She spun around, never letting go of his hand before she rested her head against his chest. They slowly rocked back and forth, quiet, as the music continued.
“Lily, I have to tell you?—”
But she reached up and pressed a soft kiss to his mouth, stealing away the sliver of strength he had. No, he would be selfish. He had confessed as much to her while at the beach. Rafe Davies was a greedy man, and if keeping the truth quiet a little longer meant one more moment dancing with her in the crowded tavern, he would do it.
Because for one moment, for this one evening, it was only the two of them in a space they had created for just themselves. And he never wanted to let that go, even though he knew he must as soon as the road cleared.
CHAPTER 12
Lily groanedas soon as the sun pierced her eyes. She grabbed the sheet, yanked it over her head, and rolled over to find Rafe.
Who was missing.
This morning was already off to a terrible start.
The sheets were rough against her bare skin, and she was sore, tired, and apparently without her travel companion. And she wished very much he were in bed with her instead of doing whatever the ever-charming Lieutenant Rafe Davies did in the morning.
Which for the past two mornings had been unapologetically… her.
A soft rap sounded at the door. Lily grudgingly rolled back over, peeking out from beneath the sheet to discover the charming naval officer poking his head in with an annoyingly handsome smile stretched across his absurdly perfect face.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
His voice in the morning, after such little sleep, felt the same as when his rough thumb stroked her hip. A warm, delicious shiver chased down her spine.
Instead of saying anything, she only mumbled and hid back under the sheets. It was easier when the rain was here. Now the sun was out, and that changed everything.
And after two days of allowing her defenses to soften and learning to lead with her heart, logic had returned in full force this morning with the blasted sunshine.
“It appears the roads are fit to travel at last,” he said, closing the door behind him. She watched the shadow of Rafe move through the room, first setting something down on the table by the large window before he kicked off his boots and padded to the bed.
No answer was the perfect answer because, really, why would she celebrate leaving when she had been so blissfully happy for the first time in her life?
