Page 73 of In Search of a Husband
Just as she couldn’t think of what may come of their relationship.
She wished to enjoy the pleasure she had found and shared between them as a woman exploring her independence. But the gnawing feeling that had moved into her chest recently whenever he was around made her consider this was beyond a flirtation or small affair.
Kate cared for Gabriel.
“Come here,” he said, his voice ragged from lack of sleep. “I wish to be in bed with ye now. I’m dead on my feet, and I canna dance any longer.”
“I can leave,” she said, waiting by the edge of the bed as he crawled beneath the covers. “Ishouldleave before the others…”
“It’s my castle, Kate. I dinna care about the others.”
Except she did. She had endured too much in London to be so flippant.
“Come here,mo leannan.”
This felt impossible between them.
“I think we’ve made a mistake,” she said.
“Oh?”
Kate sighed, wiping at her eyes. “Gabriel, I…” She worried her fingers over the cuffs of his shirt. A beautiful shirt that was from another lifetime.
They both had been through so much to end up here together. And what if, in time, Gabriel came to resent her or having to return to Scotland? What if one day he dismissed her and didn’t give her a recommendation?
What if, one day, he broke her heart?
“There are no rules, Kate. We can make them.”
Except that hadn’t been her experience. There were rules thatpunished her for living as she had chosen to do—following her heart—however messy that may be.
“For tonight, can we no’ forget the rules and crawl in beside me, lass?”
“Would you like that?”
He chuckled, tossing his head up to the ceiling before meeting her worried gaze again. “Verra much.”
This would all make more sense in the morning. Or in time. Patience was not a virtue of hers, after all.
“Ye’ve a kind heart,” he said, tugging her beneath the covers. “And a wicked sense of humor. And in the morning, before everyone else wakes, I wish to remind ye whatI’mgood at.”
It was her turn to laugh.
He must think the very worst of her, getting stuck in her head as she had this evening, nearly ruining their time together.
Kate nestled against Gabe’s chest. “I don’t know what that could be.”
“Sassy girl,” hetsked, rolling on top of her and gently cradling her face with his hands.
She grinned up at him, melting back into the mattress and wriggling her hips.
“You could remind me.”
Gabriel licked his lips as something like adoration shone back at her. “I’ll spend the rest of my life reminding ye if ye wish it.”
He bent down and kissed her, a soft, lingering kiss.
The ones she loved the best.
