“Sadly, yes. After he sent you to boarding school, I pleaded with him to change his mind. I explained how important you were to me, how I would work hard to provide for you. His response was to remind me I wasn’t worth the dirt on your boots?—”
“He was wrong.”
“Was he?” He rubbed his chin against her forehead. “I have nothing to offer you. Love can’t possibly be enough. You’d be much better off with someone who deserves you.”
She groaned and pushed at his chest so she could look him in the eye. “Stop with all this nonsense about not being deserving, and stop making decisions for me.”
“I don’t?—”
“I am tired of everyone thinking they know more about my needs and wants than I do. I told you, despite ignoring my letters for two years, that I wanted to be with you?—”
“I thought you didn’t mean it.”
“You decided I didn’t mean it. And now you’re doing it again.”
The bitter taste of regret filled his mouth. She was right.
“I’m not a girl any longer, and I refuse to let you hurt us again.” She cradled his cheeks with both hands and stared deeply into his eyes. “You are enough, my love. You’re more than enough. I couldn’t care less about where you come from or what your profession is. I never did. All I know is that it almost broke me when I lost my best friend. And now that I know you love me? Well, good luck escaping me now.”
A huff of laughter slipped past his lips. “I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“None whatsoever.”
He gripped her closer. “You’ve made your point, Genie love.”
She smirked, then turned serious. “That said, I have three questions for you. If the answer is no to any of them, you can walk out that door and I’ll never contact you again. Do you accept the conditions?”
Hell no, he didn’t. Even the possibility of that coming true made his stomach curdle. “If the answer is no, I’ll simply counteroffer until we find a solution that suits us both.”
Her brows rose, but she seemed pleased by his answer. “First question. I know you’re concerned about having something to offer me, but the truth is, I don’t need anything. Your lack of money was only ever a problem for my father. I have a rather large inheritance and I could buy a home tomorrow if I wished. Can you live with the fact that I’ll likely always have more money than you?”
“It would be silly to fault you for something I’ve always known.”
She nodded approvingly. “Question two. As I’ve made abundantly clear, I have no wish to be separated from you again. I’ve already had one nightmare about the police raiding our cabin, and it was more than enough. Are you willing to give up the scoundrel life?”
He considered his words carefully. “I am willing, yes, but I must see this final sale through first. On my life, I swear this is the last time. Can you wait for me to do that?”
She dropped her gaze and played with the buttons on his coat. “How long will that be?”
“A few weeks, maybe a month.” He lifted her chin with his forefinger. “I have a potential buyer, but I need time in case the sale doesn’t go through.”
“Are you going to sell it in Mr. Hughes’s name?”
“It has to be this way, Genie. It would rouse suspicions if I sold it under my own name.” He raised his brows. “What do you say? Can you trust me to finish my business and return to you?”
“I’ll give you a month. Take longer, and I will be forced to hunt you down.”
“I would expect nothing less.”
“When will you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. The sooner I go, the faster this will all be over.”
“Then you’d better answer my last question. It will determine how we spend our last few hours in the cabin.”
Her subtle smirk caught his attention. “Go ahead.”
She leaned in close and pressed her lips to his ear. “Do you promise to spank me every time I’m naughty?”
