Page 25 of A Second Chance for Carys
“I thank you for the offer but I’m not sure we would be suited to?—”
“You haven’t allowed me to try to persuade you, that’s why.” He caught up with her and, wrapping an arm about her waist, drew her to him. “I think you should allow me to show you how it would be between us before you say anything.”
And he did just that. He showed her exactly how she imagined things would be between them. Reasonable. Unexciting. Dull. His kiss was gentle, and perfectly pleasant, but all Carys could think was that this man would never do anything to shock or even surprise her. He would not expose her to his gaze before pleasuring her, he would not lick her as if he could not get enough of what her body had to offer, he would not compliment her on her taste afterward.
Did she want such a companion? The answer was clear in her mind. She did not, not when a man like James Mortimer was available. She shook her head. No, it was not even that. Even if she hadn’t spent a scandalous afternoon with him the other day, even if they had not shared a fiery kiss the previous morning, she would not have been tempted by a life with Richard, who couldonly ever be a friend. With Dewi she’d had love and passion, she could not settle for anything less now, when nothing obliged her to even be with someone. Why shackle herself to someone who would never make her heart flutter or her body hum in desire?
She drew back as gently as she could, and he let her go. Which only proved she was right to think they would never suit. If he was not even prepared to fight to keep her in his arms, he would never do anything to give her the impression she was the center of his life.
“Richard. Please. This is not a good idea, and you know it.” Would that he realized it himself! Surely he’d felt how passionless their kiss had been?
“You haven’t even had time to think about?—”
He stopped mid-sentence and his gaze flickered to a place to her left. Carys turned to see what had caught his attention and her heart dropped to her knees.
James was standing in the door frame, the expression on his face dark as thunder.
“I think Carys has made her wishes clear, wouldn’t you say?” he growled. “She doesn’t want you. Let her go.”
That wasn’t exactly what she had said, but now was not the time to point it out. Because it was the truth anyway.
She hastened to the door, sensing the men were about to lash out at each other. Fleeing was the coward way out, but she couldn’t bear to be the reason for the two friends’ disagreement.
“I’m sorry. Please don’t fight on my account, it’s n-not worth it,” she stammered, before running away.
Once he and Richard were alone, James planted himself in front of the carpenter. Tension sizzled, filling the whole room, but neither of them moved. They were almost of a height, and both boasted athletic physiques. Because of it, the outcome of a fight between them was hard to predict. Still, James sensed he would emerge the victor, because of what was at stake.
Carys.
“If we were twenty or thirty years younger I believe you would have planted your fist in my face by now,” Richard said after a while.
James knew he most likely looked about to do just that, even if he was doing his best to suppress the urge. When he had walked into the great hall and seen Carys and his friend locked in an intimate embrace, his stomach had flipped in his chest at what he’d thought was a betrayal. Only the morning before, he had kissed her, and confided his deepest, most painful secret, surely she could have waited more than a day before throwing herself into another man’s arms?
Then once the red mist had dissipated, he’d noticed how her arms were limp by her sides, how she appeared stunned rather than lost to desire and he’d understood that not only had she not initiated the kiss, but she was not stirred by it. There was no lust in her, or even interest. By the time she had angled her body away from Richard and told him it was not a good idea, James had understood that she did not want him.
This was a misunderstanding, nothing more. He had no reason to be mad at Carys, or to rip Richard to pieces. And so he would do neither, as tempting as it might be.
He walked over to the window and looked into the distance in a bid to master his temper. With luck, the peaceful view at his feet would help restore some calm into him. It took a while but when he felt himself again and able to talk to his friend, he turned to face him.
“The fact that I didn’t hit you has nothing to do with our age.” James ran a hand through his hair. “I would like nothing more than to ensure your mouth is too mangled to allow you to impose your kisses on Carys from now on. But unfortunately for me, I think your intentions toward her are honorable.”
If the carpenter had been too forceful, or thought to take advantage of Carys in any way, he would have made him regret his actions, but it had been nothing like that. The kiss had been too tame, too respectable to be threatening in any way. If Richard had only been after a meaningless night in her arms, James might have taken exception to it but he could tell that wasn’t the case. The offer had been for far more.
“Of course my intentions are honorable,” Richard huffed. “Who do you take me for? I want to offer her a second chance at life. Carys is a remarkable woman, and has been alone for far too long. She deserves to be happy.”
“Yes,” James said through gritted teeth. This, at least, they could agree on. Shewasa remarkable woman, and she did deserve happiness.
“Alas, she’s not interested in what I have to offer. ’Tis clear she has her mind set on another man.”
James’ heart skipped a beat. She did? Bloody hell. He’d only just discovered Richard was a contender in Carys’ affection, and now he was told someone else was lurking in the shadows? Would he have to have words with all the men at Sheridan Manor? Or was this mysterious suitor residing in the village?
“Who?” he growled, already knowing he would throttle the man if he dared toy with her. The blacksmith? The baker? Not Luke’s new farm hand, surely?
Richard threw him a look he could only have described as incredulous. “Are you really that blind? You, of course.”
A riot of emotions assaulted James all at once, causing him to stare at his friend. Incredulity, pride, anger, joy, possessiveness, fear. In the end, anger won. It was easier that way, safer.
“You mean you offered to make her your…” He stopped, not knowing what word to use exactly. Was Richard ready to marry her or had he merely proposed a mutually beneficialarrangement? He didn’t know. “You kissed her, all the while thinking she wanted to be with me?”
