Frederick nodded. “Mr. Hale is rough around the edges...and probably straight through, as well. But he’s determined to do right by his daughter.”
“It won’t be easy to say good-bye.”
Looking down at his hand clasped in hers, he took a long breath. “I know. But I’ve been talking to her. She’s known from the beginning that I wouldn’t be able to stay forever, that I’d have to leave someday. It’ll be difficult, but she’s a brave girl.”
“I’m so proud of you, Frederick. Your strength through his whole ordeal is inspiring.”
His dark eyes lifted to hers with a frown of consternation tugging down his brow. “I haven’t done anything you wouldn’t’ve if our situations were reversed.”
She wasn’t so sure of that, but it warmed her that he thought so. She rose to her feet and he followed suit. “Shall we go home?”
He nodded.
They walked downstairs side by side before Fredrick stepped forward to lead the way to the parlor. Entering the room, Katherine’s sight was assaulted by the décor, the flowered pink wallpaper, the ruffles and lace and plentitude of unnecessary objects scattered about on every surface.
How on earth could a man like Hale stand to reside in a place like this? It boggled the mind. Even more so when she caught sight of the large, muscled male stretched out on the rug in front of a delicate-looking sofa. He was lying on his side, propped up on one elbow as the little girl sat in front of him. They each had hold of a porcelain animal, likely swiped from the considerable collection of figurines littering the room, and they appeared to be play-acting a scene.
Hale noticed their arrival first as he looked up without changing position. His dark green gaze fell on her brother with a flicker of curiosity—as though he were accustomed to quickly ascertaining the boy’s well-being—before shifting to Katherine.
As his focus found her, the depth of his regard changed. She felt it viscerally as his regard slid over her from head to toe and, when it returned to her face, the way his attention lingered intently. When she lifted a brow in response to his overt staring, his mouth widened in a brazen grin.
Heat lit within her and burned her cheeks, but she refused to glance away. Katherine wasn’t sure if she should be offended or confused by his behavior. He was such a different manner of man than she’d ever encountered before. Bold, crude, physical, and unapologetic. Did he look at all women the way he was looking at her—probing and assessing?
Before she could wonder any further, the little girl noticed them and scrambled to her feet in a rush to bring her small treasure to Frederick. “Fweddie, wookit piggie.”
The boy knelt down to examine the porcelain animal. “What a handsome little swine,” he replied softly, and the girl beamed in response, her blue eyes shining with adoration.
Katherine’s heart ached.
As the children continued talking in hushed voices, Hale slowly rolled to his feet. Katherine found herself amazed by the unique sort of grace in his movements. Again, she was surprised that a man in possession of such towering height and thick muscles didn’t lumber and lurch.
He didn’t. Not even a little bit.
Standing in the middle of the flouncy parlor, he looked incredibly out of place. And he seemed to know it as he glanced toward the sofa with a sardonic expression. “You’re welcome to take a seat.”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.” She glanced to Frederick. “We just came to say good-bye.”
Hale nodded, keeping his gaze focused on her. After a bit, she had to fight the urge to fidget. She spoke instead. “Frederick explained how he came to be in your company. There is no way to express my gratitude for your part in rescuing him from such a terrifying fate.” He tilted his head but didn’t reply. “I could offer a financial reward.”
He gave a soft grunt. “I believe you already did.”
Katherine lifted her chin. “I apologize for misunderstanding your part in the situation, but I would be happy to stand by my offer.”
“Since triple of nothing is still nothing, that’s what you owe me.” She opened her mouth to argue. The man deserved some sort of compensation. But he spoke first, lowering his voice so the children wouldn’t overhear. “I owed Freddie a debt. Now we’re even.”
She searched his rigid features.
Already this evening, she’d seen his mouth curved in a bold grin, tilted in an irreverent smirk, and curled into something resembling a snarl. As she watched, the momentarily serious press of his mouth began to soften. One side twisted slightly upward and she tensed. Lifting her gaze, she looked into eyes that glittered brightly with amusement and something else.
Heat rushed through her as she instantly recalled how he’d held her against the wall and the way his voice had growled dangerously in her ear. Her belly swirled and her legs became weak.
Oh my god! Could she be feeling desire for this great hulk of a man?
The idea was astounding, but as his smile deepened and the stirring inside her grew stronger, she had to acknowledge it wasn’t impossible. She was not a prudish sort, and at twenty years of age, she wasn’t entirely ignorant of the concept of lust, though she had very limited experience with it personally. Still...what she felt in response to Hale was overwhelming and entirely unexpected.
Locking her knees, she tightened the muscles around her spine. “We should be going.”
Hale held her gaze for a moment longer before extending his hand to Frederick. The firm handshake and curt nod appeared to say more than any words could have. And Frederick seemed to understand perfectly as he lifted his chin and nodded in return.
When the brute turned back to her, he offered neither handshake nor nod. Just an intensely focused stare as he lowered his chin to a cocky angle. “Lady
