All of a sudden, he was filled with a need to protect her, to keep her safe always.
It was a heady feeling but one which was more than a little confusing.
They got to the carriage, and she turned to look up at him, her eyes deep enough to drown in, her body swamped by both his coat and her cloak.
She’d never looked so serene. She’d never looked so beautiful.
It was a moment of perfection, and he was starting to want a lifetime of them.
She was surroundedbyhis scent, and it was exquisite.
Furtively, Olivia clasped the lapels of the black greatcoat and inhaled. It smelled of soap, sandalwood, and Alexander. It was heavenly.
Alexander wasn’t speaking much and nor was she.
His chivalrous act, his concern for her wellbeing, and of course his kisses, were forces too strong for her to fight.
She might as well embrace the fact that she loved him.
Then, when he rejected her as he had three years ago, she could go away and lick her wounds in peace.
But wouldn’t it be nice to just let herself enjoy his company?
“Let’s get inside and get warm,” Alexander interrupted her thoughts.
She looked guiltily at him.
“Oh, Alexander, you must be freezing,” she said, starting to remove his coat. Here, take—” her words trailed off as she looked at him, really looked at him, since he’d given her his coat.
Now that they were standing directly in the moonlight, away from the cover of the trees, she could see more of him and what she saw was enough to make her mouth dry and her heart gallop.
She could see the muscles of his arms through the material of his navy-blue superfine. They looked so defined, so big.
And his jacket had very obviously not been padded like that of some of the dandies of theton, given the size of his shoulders and the breadth of his chest.
“Olivia?”
Her eyes snapped up to his, and she was mortified by the light of amusement in them. He knew, the arrogant swine. He knew the effect he was having on her.
“You were saying?” he continued with a smug grin.
“I thought you might be cold. I was g-giving you back your greatcoat,” she murmured, refusing to meet his amused gaze.
“Keep it,” he said, chuckling softly. “I do believe your heated glances are enough to keep my blood warm.”
Olivia gasped in outrage. How dare he embarrass her so?
“I beg your pardon,” she exclaimed. “I was not giving you heated glances you great big oaf.”
He laughed again then bent to give her a swift kiss.
“You are one of a kind, Olivia Darington. Come.”
He leaned around her and opened the door of the carriage before holding out a hand to help her up.
Rather than take his hand, however, she shoved the greatcoat at him and inelegantly scrambled up into the carriage without his help, trying hard to ignore his laughter behind her.
When she’d landed herself in a graceless heap on the bench, she looked up to see he’d already entered the conveyance, smoothly of course, and was sitting opposite her with a heart-stopping smile on his face.
