What had followed were the best weeks of Win’s life until she’d met Angus. Vienna had doted on her. Spent every minute with her. Coddled her with her favorite food, watched movies and television with her, played with her hair, gave her makeovers and let her dress up in her clothes. All the things Win had always dreamed of doing. The things other mothers did with their girls.
She didn’t realize she was sobbing until Angus lifted her into his lap and wrapped her in a hug.
“Let it out,” he said. “Just let it all out.”
She told him all about those days through her tears, how wonderful Vienna could be when she wasn’t tangled up and overwhelmed by running Manners Corp and the Manners Foundation.
“I was sad all over again when things got back to normal,” she told him, drying her eyes. “But Mom had a business to run. A foundation, too. I eventually went back to school, but now I had an entourage, as my friend Andrea used to say. A security detail,” she clarified. “I was basically never alone again until I came here.”
“You’re not alone now,” he said, smoothing her hair back and brushing a kiss over her lips. “If it wasn’t for Leslie, I’d be with you every minute, lass.”
“I know.”
“Thirty days. Twenty-three now. When the month is over, I promise we will never be apart again. Meanwhile, you’d better believe I’ll keep you safe.” Angus’s gaze searched hers. “I love you, Win Lisle.”
“I love you, Angus McBride.”
“I’m going to propose to you just as soon as I can, but I won’t do that with another woman in the way. Can you wait for me?”
“Yes,” she promised.
She’d wait as long as it took.
The second time they made love, Angus took his time, undressing her all the way slowly and reacquainting himself with every inch of Win’s luscious body. Her cheeks flushed from their earlier lovemaking, she was lovely and happy, and looking at her made him hard again. Now he truly understood why she’d left Base Camp. Win thought she owed her mother her life. He had questions about her childhood and about whether Vienna had gotten her work/life balance right if Win had been so starved for love; wondered, too, what the Lisles had done with the kidnapper, but those could wait. All he wanted to do was be with Win again.
He’d been fooling himself if he’d ever thought he was over her—or could get over her through sheer force of will. Win had gotten under his skin the first time they met, and he wasn’t through with her yet. Not by a long shot. As he moved over her body, stroking his hands—and his lips—over her skin, she stretched and arched her back, every inch the satisfied woman.
Not too satisfied yet, he hoped. He wanted to make her scream.
Win’s cries were the loveliest sound he’d ever heard.
When his explorations brought him to her hips, he lifted them in his hands and bent to taste her, Win’s moans and movements letting him know he was giving her pleasure. She was soft and wet and sweet, a heady cocktail that had him wanting to be inside her again.
But Angus was taking it slow this time. He teased her and stroked her with his tongue until he saw her fingers tangle in the bedsheets. She was ready, but he couldn’t help teasing her more. He wanted her right at the edge when he pushed inside her again. Ready for another explosive orgasm.
Lord knew he was ready. As hard and aching to be inside her as he’d been before.
Win transformed him into randy teenager again. He could keep this up all night.
“Angus—” Win gasped.
He was up and on top of her in an instant, driving inside her until she cried out. Win moved with him as hungry for him as he was for her until they came together in a crash of hips and a chorus of cries, their orgasms overtaking them simultaneously.
Angus’s went on and on until he wondered if there’d be anything left of him when it was over. He couldn’t get enough of Win. Couldn’t possess her enough. Couldn’t be possessed by her enough to convince him this wasn’t a dream.
He didn’t know what he’d do if it was, he thought as he fell back against the mattress, Win beside him, sighing with happiness.
They’d made love like this before she’d left. Had created a baby. And she’d run away, a little voice in his head said. Was she back for good now?
He listened to his heartbeat. Felt the light pressure of Win’s hand on his chest.
Don’t think, he told himself.
If there was anything he’d learned in this world, trouble would come looking for them soon enough.
Win loved the way Angus took her. If asked in the past, she would have said she liked her lovemaking tender and slow, but Angus’s desire brought out something a little wild in her, and now she felt like she was glowing inside and out.
Angus’s hand was roaming over her even now, sliding over her hip, tracing down her thigh, then back up to cup the curve of her belly. All Win wanted was to savor the moment, but now that she’d told him about her past, it was time to come all the way clean. She needed to tell him about the man she’d seen in the woods. She should have told him already.
“Angus—”
A thunderous knock came on the front door, and both of them stiffened. It came again. “Angus? Let me in!”
It was Leslie.
“What’s she doing down here? Don’t they have an entire house to clean?” Win was already tugging her chemise over her head. Angus yanked on his boxer-briefs and jeans, tugged on socks and boots, and shrugged into his T-shirt and flannel. He moved toward the ladder.
“I’m in the can, Leslie—give me a second,” he shouted.
More pounding. “Open up!”
Win did
