Delilah’s heart leapt in her chest at the sight of him standing there—the same gentleman she remembered, but also…different.
His hair was shorn neatly and his clothes were fine and well-cut. His seemingly permanent stubble was shaved and he was…
Devastatingly handsome.
No. She straightened. He was handsome, but still the same brute who’d left her here without a word for nearly a week.
His grin was infuriating and smug.
He’d heard.
She narrowed her eyes in anger. Good. She was glad he’d heard. Her heart might have been racing away with excitement but she clung to her anger. Because if she was wrong…
If he wasn’t here for the reason she hoped…
She huffed loudly and stomped her foot. “You had no right,” she snapped.
His smile never wavered and she clenched her hands into fists as her palms tingled with the urge to rush over and smack him.
“Ladies,” he said politely, his gaze never leaving Delilah’s. “Would it be all right with you if I have a moment alone with Miss Clemmons?”
Miss Grayson was the first one out of her seat, grinning broadly as she rushed the others out of the room. “I’ll just be…” she started as she pulled the door halfway shut behind them. She seemed to realize that neither of them were listening because she added softly. “Holler if you need me, dear,” before slipping out of the room.
The door was open and she knew without a doubt that her friends hovered nearby, but they were for all intents and purposes…alone.
Her heart was beating so quickly she had to fight the urge to clap a hand to her breast to hold it in place.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped. It came out far angrier and much less desperate than it had sounded in her head. That was a relief.
His smile faded a bit and he moved toward her. Slowly. Cautiously.
Smart man.
When he came close enough that he could reach out and touch her, he stopped. “I am sorry I stayed away so long.”
She glared at him. Did he really think that would suffice? She clamped her lips shut, telling herself she would not say another word until he gave her some sort of explanation.
He looked down at his boots—well-polished and seemingly new. “I, uh…I was afraid….”
“You were afraid?” she echoed, her voice rising alarmingly. She took a deep breath and tried again. “You, the man who has devoted his life to chasing after criminals and who singlehandedly took down Lord Everley—”
“I would not say singlehanded—”
“You were afraid?” she continued as if he hadn’t interrupted, her voice filled with disbelief. “Of what? Me?” Something inside her slipped a bit. Some of that righteous anger faltered with the realization that perhaps he had been afraid of her.
Her own gaze dropped now so she was the one studying the toes of her slippers. “I know I am not exactly…” She flailed her hands as she sought the right word. “Approachable.” She shifted uncomfortably. “I may not be as delicate or…demure as most ladies of your acquaintance, but I don’t see—”
His fingers beneath her chin, tilting her face up, made her words freeze in her throat.
His grin was all rueful amusement. “Delilah, I am not afraid of you. If you’d let me finish, I was going to explain that I wanted to give you time and space so you could think and reconcile yourself to everything that had happened.”
She blinked up at him dazedly, her mind struggling to sift through his words, searching for hidden meanings or something that might hurt her.
It was difficult to use reason at all when he touched her like this. All her mind wanted to do was focus on the feel of his rough, calloused fingertips on the sensitive skin of her cheek as he held her face in his hands now, cupping her jaw like she was some fragile, cherished treasure.
“I was afraid…” He gave a little sigh of impatience as he shook his head. “I did not mean to make you worry or to hurt you in any way. I merely wanted to give you room so you could sort out your feelings for me without the heightened emotions that can come with the sort of ordeal you just underwent.”
Much as it pained her, she took a step back until his hands dropped. She needed a little distance to make sense of that. Once she did, his reasoning clicked with a startling clarity. “You thought I would have said yes to you because I was grateful.”
His smile was small and a little too sad for her liking. “Something like that.” He moved closer but kept his hands to himself. “I did not want you to make a hasty decision you might regret.”
She blinked up at him, shaking her head in confusion as a million emotions flooded through her at once.
He wanted her. He was only looking out for her. He was afraid she’d reject him.
“Why would I regret choosing to be with you?” she asked. “I…I care about you.”
He groaned as he moved toward her, this time taking her in his arms and pulling her close. “Do you, really, my love?” He pressed his lips to her temple. “Were you in earnest when I walked into this room? Did you really fall in love?”
Her lips quivered with a smile as ridiculous tears swam in her eyes. And yet, it was a smack she delivered to his chest as she pulled back to meet his gaze. “Of course, I love you. Do you think I let just any man kiss me?”
His grin turned roguish as he held her tighter still. “I hope I am the only man who ever has the privilege of kissing you.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, his soft groan making her want to weep because it echoed the same desperation she’d been feeling all week.
And here, now… She finally had him where she wanted him.
Kissing her, holding her—and he’d better not even think of ever
