Her breathing had accelerated, and her legs were melting faster. “That’s how I felt, too.”
He cupped the side of her face, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “I’m going to stop fighting this attraction between us. I realize my brother sent away for you, but Hannah, you don’t belong with him. You belong... with me.”
Happiness soared in her heart, and tears of joy filled her eyes. How strange was it that they both felt the same way about each other? Indeed, they were meant to be together. Fate had an odd way of bringing them to this point, but she was relieved that it had finally happened.
“Oh, Maverick, I feel the same.” She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Those few hours I was with Bryan before you took me away, I felt so uncomfortable. I felt shy and awkward.” She chuckled lightly. “I’ve never felt that way with you. With you, I feel as though I could tell you anything... and that you’d understand.”
He nodded. “I would because we are so much alike.”
Hannah’s heart softened. This was the opening she’d hoped for. Swallowing hard, she prepared her words. She must make him understand why she’d chosen to withhold this information.
“I’m glad you said that Maverick because there is something I need to tell you before another word is spoken.” She took a deep breath. “There is something that I need to confess to why I decided to become a mail-order bride.”
His smile relaxed, and he cupped her face. “There’s nothing you can say to me that will change my mind about you.”
She held onto that hope, although she doubted his word. What man wouldn’t be upset to hear that the woman they were falling in love with was carrying another man’s child?
“Do you remember when I started telling you about that charming man I’d met who I thought would be my husband?”
He nodded, and his frown slowly diminished. “Are you still in love with him?”
“Heavens, no!” She gave him a tender smile. “Maverick, after meeting you, all other men who had been in my life have simply... disappeared from my mind.”
His satisfied grin returned. “Good. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“As would I, however...” She took another deep breath. “Something happened between this man and me that you need to know about.”
His smile waned as he cocked his head. “Are you trying to tell me that you were intimate with him?”
Heat filled her face, and she hoped the shadows from the tall hedges nearby, and the thick trees would hide that from Maverick. “Yes, we were intimate.”
He shook his head. “As long as I’m the only man in your life from now on, that’s all I care about.”
“But... there is more, Maverick.”
“More?”
The insecurities she’d been struggling with came over her again, making it difficult to breathe. As much as she didn’t want to confess the ugly truth, she needed to for her own peace of mind. “You see, Maverick, I’m—”
Footsteps on the brick walkway jerked her out of her thoughts, and she jumped, swinging her gaze to the person interrupting her and Maverick. At first, the tall, slender figure of a man was unrecognizable, but when he walked into the moon’s light, peeking through the trees, highlighting his face, she sucked in a fast breath as her heart plummeted to the ground.
What’s he doing here?
Maverick groaned but tightened his arms around her. “Stormy? Can’t you see I’m having a private moment with my fiancée right now? Please leave.”
Stormy? Had she been mistaken to this man’s identity? She prayed that was the case. But he looked so much like...
The other man held up his hands and stopped. “Forgive me for the interruption, but I wanted to come to give you my congratulations since I missed Gramps’ celebration supper. And,” his gaze moved to Hannah before narrowing, “I especially wanted to come and see for myself if this was the woman Gramps told me about.”
Hannah’s heartbeat quickened in panic. This was him! That voice she would never forget. Her stomach churned and threatened to upheave the food she’d eaten earlier at any moment.
“Dillon Walker,” she said in a stern voice, “this is not your concern any longer.”
Gasping, Maverick’s head swung toward her. His eyes were wide with shock.
“You know my cousin?”
She nearly lost her breath. “Your cousin?”
“Yes. This is my mother’s sister’s son. The family has nicknamed him Stormy. But... how do you know him?”
She wanted to find a hole and crawl inside. She couldn’t handle this... but she must. All of her life, she’d been a strong woman. Today, at this very moment, was when she needed to find that strong-willed woman, and not worry about the consequences. Yet... this time, the results would indeed ruin her happiness.
“Well,” she began in a shaky voice, not wanting to look at Dillon, and she especially didn’t want to relive all of the heartaches he’d put her through, “Dillon and I—”
“Oh, Han,” Dillon said, stepping closer. “Let me tell Maverick. I’m certain he’ll enjoy the humor in our situation.”
She threw Dillon a glare. “Don’t you dare say a word.”
Growling, Maverick moved away from Hannah and pushed the palms of his hands against Dillon’s chest, knocking him back a few steps. “You are upsetting the woman I love. Please leave.”
Silently, she groaned, and her throat tightened with emotion. He loves me? But, soon, he wouldn’t, she just knew it.
“You love this hussy?” Dillon barked out a laugh.
Maverick fisted his hand and plowed it at his cousin, hitting him square in the nose. She gasped but didn’t try to stop him. In her opinion, the man deserved what he received. Dillon stumbled back a little more, holding his sore nose.
“You have no right to call her that,” Maverick snapped. “Apologize. Now.”
Dillon shook her head. “I’m not apologizing for telling the truth.” He
