“You can run, but you can’t spend the rest of your life avoiding pain. If so, you’ll be a lonely person.”
“I won’t fail another person,” Ed said in a low, forced tone.
She wouldn’t let him escape, to fall into the pit of self-destruction. “Then you lied to me.”
He spun on his heels and faced her. “I haven’t lied.”
“You said you believed in me, that you thought I should have choices. You said I was strong and smart and capable.”
“You are.”
“Then why should I have to rely on you to save me? Maybe I’m strong enough to save you.” Cora abandoned her seat and blocked Ed from the door. She wouldn’t let him escape his feelings any longer. “Look at me.”
Ed turned and walked the other direction. “I can’t be here with you right now. You’re twisting my thoughts. I won’t be selfish enough to marry you when I know I’ll only ruin you. I’m cursed. Everyone I’ve ever cared about has either died or run off with my fortune.”
She cornered him at the end of the table. “I’m not William. Stop pushing me away. I know you want me. I can see it in your eyes.”
His hands shook, and his gaze hopped around the room like a rabid rabbit. She closed in, took his face in her hands, and made him see her. “Look at me. Stop running, and take a chance. I won’t crumble in your arms or run off if you can’t restore your fortune. Trust me. Love me.”
“No,” he said in a weak whisper.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his chin, his cheek, and then the corner of his lips. She tasted the salt and resistance.
“Stop,” he protested, but his arms slipped around her waist and his eyes blazed with passion.
“Kiss me.” She graced his lips with her own and nibbled, coaxing him closer.
Ed groaned loud and his body tensed, but then he let go and crushed her to him so tight, she couldn’t tell where she ended and he began. He claimed her lips with such passion, she thought she’d swoon. Her body ignited in fiery want, and her legs went weak. And when he deepened the kiss, she floated like a seagull above the bay toward heaven.
ChapterFifteen
Ed’s body awoke,and his desire unleashed. Cora let out a delicate sound of passion that made him long for her like hotcakes to a starving man. Her body melded into him, and he savored her warmth. His fingers slid into her silky hair.
Lost. Lost in the aroma of flowers. Lost in his desire. Lost in everything Cora offered—hope, joy, love.
His pulse thundered, his heart hammered, and his longing swelled until he thought he’d go mad with want.
A clang in the kitchen reminded him they were unmarried and weren’t completely alone. He forced himself to pull back before he lost all control. They clung to each other, her cheek pressed to his heaving chest.
“I can hear your heart. It speaks to me,” Cora whispered, her words always tugging at him to surrender.
Ed swallowed a moan and forced his wits to work again. “What does it say?”
She snuggled closer, wrapping her arms around his middle. “That you want to take a chance on us.”
“I do.” God help him, he’d lost himself.
He closed his eyes and held her, never wanting to let go.
A child’s giggle broke the quiet of their evening, piercing his perfect moment.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” She tightened her arms around him, but he pried loose.
“Wait.” Cora blocked his path to the kitchen the way she’d blocked his path to the door when he tried to escape his need for her only moments earlier.
He nudged her to the side and marched into the kitchen to find a little girl sitting on the floor at Cook’s feet. His skin erupted in fiery fear. “What’s this?” His voice echoed and boomed and caused the little girl to skitter under the table and whimper.
