Page 21 of The Duke I Wished For
As Clarissa started on her second slice, juice began dribbling down her chin and onto her frock.
He pulled out a kerchief from his pocket and reached over Daffodil to wipe his daughter’s chin.
It brought his nose very close to Daffodil’s cheek and he inhaled her scent again, his chest pressing into Daffodil’s shoulder.
He could feel the heat of her, see the thrum of her pulse fluttering in her neck. She turned, her eyes meeting his, and she was so close that he only need lean forward the slightest bit and he could kiss her.
He’d wager her lips were achingly soft and she’d taste as sweet as she smelled.
His hand dropped even as she swallowed. “Would you like me to wipe her frock?”
Without taking his gaze from hers, he pressed the kerchief into her open fingers, wishing for the moment not to end.
But all too soon, she turned back toward his daughter and began dabbing at Clarissa’s top. Then she tapped a finger under the girl’s chin and gave his daughter a winning smile. “There. All better.”
Clarissa smiled in return and began to eat another slice even as Daffodil turned back to him. “Here is your kerchief, Your Grace.”
“Daffodil,” he murmured softly, ignoring her outstretched hand. He was still close enough to see a smattering of freckles across her nose. “I think you should call me Blake.”
“Blake?” Her eyes grew impossibly wide as her lips parted. He couldn’t help himself, he glanced down at them again, marveling at the soft flesh.
“That’s right.”
“I…” She nipped at her bottom lip, only making him want to kiss her more. “I don’t think…”
“I insist,” he answered. And then he found himself reaching up and brushing at a stray lock of her hair, exactly as she’d done to Clarissa moments before.
He heard her breath catch and he found himself grinning in response to the little sound.
“Blake.”
His name sounded good when she said it. Sweet and soft. There was something about the way her tongue rolled over the L that made his chest tight. “Daff.”
Her chin dipped then, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “My sister calls me that and our friends have adopted the name.”
“I like it,” he said without forethought. “I like you.”
“Like?” she replied, but a tiny divot appeared between her brows as the smile disappeared from her lips.
Did she not like him? “That’s right. And Clarissa. She likes you too.” He watched a number of emotions flit across her face, he wasn’t quite certain what each meant.
Daffodil looked over at his daughter, who still happily ate her oranges, and then back at him. “I like her too.”
He did note that she’d not mentioned any affection she might bear for him but he forged on. “It’s no secret that I’m searching for a wife.”
“It isn’t.” Her voice cracked on the second word. Was that good or bad?
“I only thought you might consider taking up the position.”
A silence fell.
He knew the way he’d worded that was wrong when an emotion he could clearly identify filled her features. It was a look of horror.
“Fill the position?”
Blast. It sounded like he was hiring her as a housekeeper. “I meant…”
She shook her head. “I’m certain most ladies would be thrilled with the offer.”
