Hunt continued playing with her hair. “You are but one small woman. Although I personally find you far from insignificant, at least a thousand other decisions played a part in the accident that befell these two persons.”
Tiny lines appeared between her eyes as she considered his words—as though she was playing the scenario out in her mind.
“How many other choices were made on that fateful day?” he persisted. “Just as when you and I chose to hike down to the beach this morning.”
Hunt needed to get to the bottom of whatever secrets this minx was keeping from him. Was this why she had been so steadfast in rejecting him?
“I do like you.” She held his gaze, hers a little watery, and she swallowed hard. “I’m not trying to make trouble for you. Please understand?”
“I would if you’d tell me.”
But she pressed her lips closed.
Hunt tilted his head. “And I like you too,” he admitted. “For more than your father’s money. Does that make a difference?”
Something flashed across her face—an expression he couldn’t quite read. And then she whispered, “It would… If only…”
He studied her face in the ensuing silence. She looked so grave as she sat beside him in the shadows. Dropping her hair, he moved his hand to trace her delicate features.
“If only?” He willed her to answer while brushing his fingertips across her cheekbones, beneath those deep blue eyes, like twin black sapphires, and then down to the fullness of her lips.
She was quickly becoming not only his best option but his only option. And she was an option he found himself wanting rather than resenting.
Something he’d not expected.
As he held her gaze, injured and a little drugged, his attraction for her became too powerful to resist.
“I’m going to kiss you.” He slid his hand into her hair and around the back of her neck, and her eyes grew heavy.
Fair warning was going to have to suffice.
“It isn’t going to change anything,” she sighed as he leaned closer.
Ah, but it would. “I’ve wanted to kiss you before, you know. That first day by the lake.”
In answer, she licked her lips.
“I wanted to kiss you in Miss Primm’s parlor when your teachers allowed me a few moments alone. But I knew we’d be interrupted.”
“Yes.”
Yes, we’d be interrupted? Or, yes, she’d wanted him to kiss her then as well? It didn’t matter.
“And this morning. I was going to kiss you down on the beach, but…” His voice trailed off as he caressed her face with his gaze. The sweet line of her jaw drew his eyes to the curve between her shoulder and neck.
“But then you fell.” Her voice caught.
Hunt nodded, annoyed with himself. “Not very heroic of me.”
But she’d admitted to liking him anyway.
And as she leaned closer, twisting to face him better, he did not doubt that she wanted this kiss as much as he did.
A man knew these things.
She’d wanted the same since that first day as well. He’d bet his estate on it—what was left of it anyway.
“No more games.” His voice came out gruffer than he’d intended.
