But she must have let down her guard.Foolish, for she had always recognized the perception in his gaze—and kindness that was not, for some reason, unbearable.
“I shall not pry,” he said with oddly charming diffidence, “but I would count it an honour to help you in any way I can.”
“Quite the knight in shining armour,” she said.“If only this damsel were distressed.Sadly, she is merely charmed.”
“Is she?”he said wistfully.
Startled, she stared at him.Desire without demand, gentle and arousing...
Fortunately, the innkeeper’s wife led the servants in just then to clear the table, leaving them only with the remains of their wine.While making idle conversation, Tabitha let an exciting idea wind around her mind and take root.
It wasnotimpossible.She didn’t think she had ever encountered kindness in a man before, certainly not in an attractive young man.In him, it was allied with discretion and those smiling, observant eyes...Those long, slender fingers now idly twisting the stem of his glass would be gentle on her skin, and so very pleasurable...
The door closed behind the inn servants, and she stopped talking.She had no idea what she had been saying anyway.
He set his glass down on the table and took her hand.Lightning fizzed through her veins.
He said, “I think you have been sad for a long time.I wish I could make you happy.”
Oh God, what had he seen?And did it really matter?
For the first time, it didn’t.Not with him.
“I am happier than I was,” she managed.
“Now you are flattering me.”
She searched his eyes and almost laughed.“You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“How devastating you are.”
A crease twitched on his brow and vanished.His head dipped toward her, and she swayed nearer, her heart drumming.
But his head bowed lower to where their clasped hands rested on the table, and he kissed her fingers before releasing them.“I promised.No importuning, no seducing.”
She sighed.“There he is again, that honourable, shining knight.”
“I am not the man you think me.”
“Why, what have you done?”she asked flippantly.
“Nothing.”The inexplicable hint of bitterness in his voice confused her.
“Perhaps you should take the opportunities life offers before they are withdrawn.”
He understood her.It was in the rueful quirk of his lips.“There is the grasping of opportunity, and there is taking advantage.”
She laughed.“My dear sir, no one hasevertaken advantage of me.”
“I wish that were true.But then, I wish a lot of things.I am your friend, you know, and I hope you will be able to forgive me.”
“I am more likely to forget you,” she said.
She couldn’t tell if it hurt him or not.It struck her that he was too good at hiding his feelings, no doubt through practice.He rose to his feet.
“May I escort you to your room?”
