He was seated on his bed, lost in contemplation, when he heard a light shuffle at his open door.
“Rob?”
Fiona stood in the doorway, looking fragile and beautiful as the first rays of sunlight filtered into his room.
His heart swelled just from looking at her. “I did not mean to disturb you when I left.”
“You didn’t.” She smiled. “I felt cold without you beside me.”
“I’m sorry I behaved like a jealous arse last night.”
She shook her head and walked into his room. “You were fine,” she said, and took a seat beside him on his unslept bed, one he needed to mess up before the maids walked in to clean hisbedchamber. “I was the one who goaded you. I did not mean to do it, but is it not obvious that you deserve to be a father?”
“And you? What doyoudeserve?”
“A week of happiness with you.”
“That’s it?”
“And hopefully a lasting friendship. Could you at least smile at me? I had no idea you were such a grumbling bear in the morning.”
He gave a short, quick laugh. “I will after I have my coffee. Right now, I want to grumble and rage at the heavens for putting us in this untenable situation.”
“And all will be better after you have had your coffee?” She cast him a delicate smile. “That is soyou, Rob. But you are mostly just wonderful, even when you lumber around like an irritated bear.”
“Do not flatter me and make me smile when I am about to work myself into a manly sulk. Besides, I am a panther and not a bear. Is this not what you always say to me?Stop looking at me with your panther eyes.” He grinned at her. “And you need to stop tossing me that beautiful smile. It is giving you an unfair advantage.”
“Then I’ll leave you to your moping and pouting for now, but you must promise me that you won’t leave here before the week is up.”
“I won’t leave.” He raked a hand through his hair. “You have my word on it.”
Blessed saints.If it were up to him, he would never leave her.
“And promise you won’t bite off Milbury’s head if he smiles at me.”
“All right, but no guarantees if he sets a hand on you.”
She sighed. “I am not going to encourage him, so kindly do not kill him.”
“This is what you told me last night,” he said. “Do you really mean it?”
She nodded. “So long as you keep to your part of the bargain.”
“That infernal bargain,” he muttered, stretching out on the bed beside where she was seated. “What sort of ladies did you and Cherish pick out for me?”
“Smart, witty. Beautiful. But you will see for yourself in a matter of days.”
“They won’t be you.”
“Stop, Rob. You cannot continue with this attitude.”
He placed his hands behind his head as he regarded her. “Perhaps my attitude will improve after I leave here and we are no longer sleeping together.”
“I hope so,” she said without much enthusiasm. “Can you refer to it as something a little nicer thansleeping together?”
“Thatwasmy nice way of describing what we are doing. I could have said rutting like rabbits…or described it in far cruder language.”
She smacked him on the shoulder. “No, we are exchanging hearts and creating treasured memories.”
