Page 72 of In Search of a Husband
Striking, isn’t that how she first described him? His curated appearance of control tempered the strength simmering in his body, waiting to be unleashed. He moved with such prowess, lazy like a big cat, sunning itself sometimes but just as quick to jump and attack at the first sound of a squeak from a mouse.
She placed her dirty dishes on the small table in front of the sofa and rested her head against his shoulder, sleep settling over her features.
Kate could fall asleep here, curled against his body, relaxed and sore from their bedsport. But the bed sounded much better.
“Ye canna stay still, can ye?” He popped one blue eye open, teasing her.
Nothing could settle Kate at the moment. She had expected for something to shift within her after sleeping with Gabriel, but she wasn’t expecting this… closeness either.
“I want to know,” she said, clearing her throat.
“Aye?”
No, she couldn’t ask him what he admired about her. That was too forward. But she didn’t know how he saw her either. And since she was struggling to understand the same herself… well, it was all confusing.
“Dance with me,” she said instead. She climbed off his lap and skirted backward, holding her hand out for his.
“I’ll watch,” he said, bringing his head around to study her.
Kate shook her head. “No, Mr. MacInnes. I wish to dance, and then you may whisk me off to bed. I like to dance when I can’t sleep.”
“Does it help to quiet yer mind?”
She nodded, adjusting his large shirt over her frame. It looked like a nightdress over her. “Sometimes.”
“That’s why I enjoy boxing.”
For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t join in, but then he rose to his feet and took her hand in his, hauling her forward to collide into his chest.
“Scoundrel,” she said, wrinkling up her nose.
She rested against his chest as the softly swayed to some imaginary tune.
“Sing a song, Kate. I love it when ye hum.”
He did? She barely knew she was doing it half the time.
Gabriel raked his hand into her loose black curls and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Ye’ve a lovely voice. And ye’ve a lovely… bum.”
He reached around and gave her a playful pinch.
“Gabe!” she said with a laugh.
“And yer mind is lovely. Have I told ye that yet? Ye’re clever, and ye willna stop at anything once yer mind is made up.”
Her fingers traced over his bare shoulders. A large scar marred his left shoulder, the flesh white and ragged.
“What happened here?”
“Hurt myself boxing.”
Oh.She leaned backward to gaze up at him, losing herself in the bright blue of his eyes. Hot, searing.
They saw straight to her soul. She was sure of it.
“I’m glad ye’re here with me,” he said at last. “I promise to take care of ye…”
She reached up and placed her hand over his mouth. Saying such things would only bring about an early end, and she was enjoying her time with Gabriel far too much to think about that right now.
