She was going to fight for Dev.
Shame…rejection…Too long they’d been her familiars, dogging her every step, influencing her every interaction with the world.
Preventing her from seeing love and seeking happiness.
With sudden efficiency, Blaze unhooked ankle from thigh and stood. “I’ll speak with the coachman while you pack a fewaccoutrementsfor your journey.”
Accoutrements?
Where had he picked upthatword?
But now wasn’t the time to sort out her brother.
Now, she mustgo.
“Blaze?” she called out.
Already halfway across the room, he tossed her a glance over his shoulder.
“Thank you, brother.”
A smile curved his mouth, one lacking mischief and arrogance. A genuine smile from a brother to a sister. Their relationship was too new for them to be beloved to one another, but she sensed they would be—and it feltright.
Love.
One had to be brave and generous with it.
In the giving of it to others.
In the receiving of it for oneself.
There was no shortage of it, but one had to see it…nurture it.
And that was what she wanted more than anything—to nurture and grow in love with Dev.
Oh, Dev.
He’d bungled it on their last night together. He hadn’t spoken what was truly in his heart.
But if he had, would she have been able to hear it?
No.
The answer was swift and uncomfortable.
She’d bungled it, too.
And now she must set it right.
Or try, at least.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
DOVER, NIGHT
Dev rattled the dice in his loosely closed fist, a silent chorus of held breath surrounding him as he prolonged the suspense for a few more shakes, then let fly. Dull ivory skittered and bounced across worn, knife-scarred oak, showing all combinations of numbers until they, at last, fell still.
A one and a one—aces.
