He’d done well enough fighting his attraction to her in the past. He would continue to do so, regardless of her changed circumstances.
And he’d not find her straddling him again anytime soon. He’d gone without bedding a woman for far too long. He oughtn’t to have been aroused. For God’s sake, they’d just rolled down the side of a cliff.
“I think John went this way.” He cleared his throat and gestured for her to walk in front of him. If she lost her footing, he could keep her from falling.
Nothing untoward about the gesture. He’d do this for any client.
Squish. Squish. Squish.
Progress was painstaking and slow, but his respect for her only grew. If she had any complaints, she kept them to herself. And although she surely was experiencing a good deal of fatigue, she continued plodding right along. Until…
“Oh! Oh!” Both of her feet, planted on the ground, nonetheless, were sliding backwards. Her arms grasped at some nearby branches to no avail, sending her plowing into Niles’ arms.
As luck would have it, he’d braced himself against a rather large boulder.
A soft bum pressed against him first, followed by rounded feminine curves. He caught her around the waist, just below her breasts, and tugged upward so that her feet didn’t slither out from under her. He hissed in pain when her elbow jammed into his side.
“Oh, Mr. Waverly!”He’d expect a fit of vapors from most ladies of his acquaintance but was to be surprised by her once again.
She was shaking with laughter.
Bent over, unable to breathe, uncontrollable laughter.
“I’m sorry.” She barely managed the words. “It’s just that…” More laughter. “Why had I thought this would be easy? Anything having to do with my husband was never simple.”
Her dead husband.
A carriage accident.
And yet a few unchecked chuckles escaped his throat. She could barely hold herself upright and tears had begun streaming down her face.
“Oh, don’t laugh. I’ll never be able to stop.” Her laughter went unchecked for a full minute before she was able to successfully bring it under control. By then she had turned around in his arms and was wiping at her eyes, leaving some rather pronounced muddy streaks in the process.
He didn’t think to stop himself from grinning at her.
Hanging onto his shoulders, she suddenly stilled. “What?” A wide smile filled her face. “I’ve not gone mad. I promise you. Despite.” She used one hand to indicate her dress, her shoes and her face. “I imagine I can either laugh or cry. And as you well know, I’ve already given in to the latter…”
Niles couldn’t help but study her animated face.
So full of life. This woman.
“I much prefer this,” he allowed himself. He’d been happy to comfort her but hated that she was experiencing such turmoil. Yes. He’d always prefer laughter.
He swallowed hard, suddenly uncomfortable at such intimacy. With her face tilted up, and her hands clutching him, there remained only a scant few inches between their lips.
When was the last time he’d kissed a woman? Not out of lust, nor convenience, but because he wanted to?
Since curtailing his work for Findlay a few years back, he’d lived an almost celibate existence. While traveling… not so much.
But he’d avoided romantic entanglements.
“Hello there! Mr. Waverly.” A shout from above had Mrs. Mossant dropping her arms and turning around. “I’d like to go after the horses, if you don’t mind?” John was obviously becoming impatient waiting for them.
Niles turned various scenarios around in his brain before answering. “Meet us at The Goat and Pig. Mrs. Mossant and I will make our way there on foot!” Unless another respectable vehicle came along.
And if it could remain on the muddied road.
He’d traveled this route before. The Goat and Pig didn’t offer luxurious accommodations per se, but it would provide a safe haven for his client until other arrangements could be made for her travel. He took a deep breath and immediately regretted it.
