Page 60 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
“I will not let you fall, do not worry.” His breath tickled her ears.
Sandalwood washed over her, and she breathed it in. Millions of butterflies burst to life in her stomach as her heart beat a frantic rhythm in her chest. Warner steadied her, carefully guiding her onto her seat. Adele was facing him as she sat beside Rowen, who was facing her children at the front of the boat.
“It is a good thing Uncle Scar caught you.” George patted Adele’s hand before scampering back to the bow.
Adele looked over her shoulder at the children but did not risk turning around. The boat was small, and she was shaken from her near fall.
“Let’s go!” Alistair cried excitedly.
“Alistair, stop jumping like that; you’ll fall in.” Rowen’s voice was firm but not unkind
“Sorry Mama.” Alistair hung his head, and Adele turned from the scene as the boat lurched into motion.
The children let out excited cheers, and Rowen motioned for them to stop jumping. The rocking of the boat shifted them, and Adele’s leg pressed against her husbands. She swallowed as heat rushed through her.
Warner’s muscles rippled with each stroke, and Adele felt spots of colour as she watched his powerful arms. Her eyes traced the movement of his muscles, following the lines of them until they found his face. One corner of his mouth quirked upwards.
“The monsters are in the lake,” Warner teased.
“Not unless you are a monster,” Adele shot back, her voice light and joking.
“I assure you I am not.” Warner pulled back on the oars.
“You might be,” Adele teased and dipped her hand in the water. “There is one way to tell.”
Warner’s eyes widened. “I would not do that if I were you.”
“Oh?” Adele grinned at him and splashed him.
Behind her, the children laughed, and they began splashing Warner as well, giggling in delight. Before long, the Duke was drenched.
He wiped his sodden hair from his face and straightened, his eyes flashing. Adele swallowed.
“Satisfied?” he asked, his muscles even more apparent beneath his soaking clothes.
Adele nodded and then caught a mischievous smile on Warner’s face.
“If we are concerned that there are monsters among us, then it seems only right that I ensure that you are not a monster too.” Warner dipped an oar into the water.
“What do you — Aggggh!” Adele let out a shriek as cold water gushed over her.
The children let out squeals of delight, and the boat rocked ominously as everyone began splashing one another. Laughter echoed over the shores of the lake.
And then the boat tilted, and Adele was plunged into the water. The heavy fabric of her dress dragged at her ankles, slowing her strokes and making it hard to swim. She struggled to the surface.
There was a splash, and then she felt warm, strong arms wrap themselves around her. Her head broke the surface, and she drew in a breath of cold air.
“Are you all right?” Warner’s eyes were wide with concern as he turned her to face him. “If I had known you could not swim, I would never have done this.”
“I can swim; I just… I had not counted on the heaviness of my dress.” Adele’s face flushed at the intensity of Warner’s gaze.
“You should be more careful.” Warner pulled something green from Adele’s hair. “What if I had not been here?”
Adele’s breath caught as she realised just how close Warner was. She could count each of his eye lashes. His breath tickled against her skin. She could feel the movement of his body as he kept them both afloat.
Her lips parted.
“Get in the boat!” Alistair’s voice was full of worry. “What if a monster eats you?”
