She couldn’t help herself—he was impossible to resist.
“I wish you would have told me,” she said. “At least then—”
“I didn’t want to get married at all,” he cut her off. “The publisher at the Gazette was going to run an article that would fuel the rumors surrounding the deaths—serious speculation that I’d killed the men in my family, my predecessors. But a few days ago, he sent for me. Said he would cut that article if I provided the paper with another scandal instead.”
“By marrying your cousin’s betrothed.”
“By marrying Crossings’ daughter, but yes, his intentions were for me to marry your sister. And initially, it was what I set out to do.” He reached across the few inches that separated their knees to take her hands. “Goldie. I never wanted to marry your sister. I didn’t want to marry at all.”
Goldie squeezed her eyes shut. So far he wasn’t making her feel any better.
“But there you were. Everything I never knew I wanted.”
Everything I never knew I wanted?
She opened her eyes.
He moved one of his hands to her chin, tipping it back so she had no choice but to hold his gaze. “I was wrong not to explain everything to you first. But everything had to happen quickly and I didn’t quite understand it myself. God, when I saw you walking down the aisle toward me…” His pupils grew large, nearly edging the blue out of his eyes completely. “I realized I was the luckiest man alive.”
When she kept silent, he added, “That’s what sent me into a tailspin—that in addition to inheriting a title I don’t see as rightfully mine, I had somehow found you—the woman of my heart. I love you, Goldie. I know you’ll think I’m crazy—it’s only been a few days. And I’ve questioned my sanity more than once this morning. But I love you. I…”
He cradled her cheek in his palm. “You have somehow managed to become my everything. You were never second choice, my love. Out of every woman in the entire kingdom, I only want you.”
Goldie exhaled a partial sob. “Not just because I’m Crossings’ daughter.”
“You’re much more than that. It doesn’t matter if you’re the daughter of a duke or a merchant or the king. I want you, sweetheart. Only you.”
Goldie searched his eyes, so clear, so genuine. This time, the sob that escaped was one of relief. Reed didn’t allow a single tear to fall before scooping her onto his lap. This close, Goldie absorbed the tremble that pulsed through him.
“You love me,” she said.
“With all my heart.” His warm breath fanned across her cheek.
She lowered her lashes and plucked at the button on his jacket. “In case you didn’t realize it yet, I love you too.” She rubbed her hand over his chest.
He inhaled sharply. “Then you’d better get back into that bed.”
Goldie didn’t need to ask why, as she was seated firmly on his lap and was growing rather familiar with the workings of his masculine appendage.
“But what about the pastries?” She couldn’t help teasing him.
“They’ll be put to good use, sweetheart.” He lowered her onto the mattress and then shucked off his jacket. “Now, where did we leave off last night?”
An Unhappy Papa
“I’m not sure I’ll ever walk again.” Reed’s arms collapsed and before his weight could land on his new bride, he rolled and tucked her into his side.
“You will.” She let out a little giggle, her fingertip drawing circles on his chest, and then sighed. “Because I like that.”
“You do, eh?” He wasn’t so tired that he couldn’t push himself onto one elbow and gaze at her. “That’s excellent news.” Would he ever get enough of her? Unfortunately, just as he’d leaned forward to give in to temptation yet again, a distant pounding intruded.
Followed by servants scurrying about, and eventually, a demanding voice. Goldie went still beside him.
“Where is my daughter?”
She shot up. “My father!” Her sweet eyes suddenly filled with not only concern, but fear. And Reed wasn’t about to stand for that. He jumped out of the bed and hastily stepped into his trousers.
“You cannot go up there, your grace!” Mr. Beasley’s voice carried little authority in a feeble attempt to stop an angry duke and rapid footsteps on the stairs proved how ineffective the butler’s resistance had been.
