“Lydia.” A shudder ran through him.
Her arms snaked up his chest and encircled his neck, clutching onto him as though she’d been drowning for months and had finally found something to keep her afloat.
Locked in his embrace, sobs threatened to overflow, and her eyes burned with tears.
She pulled away, breaking the kiss, only their panting breaths between them. This was everything she wanted, but she did not understand.
“Jeremy.” Her throat caught. “Why did you hurt me so?” There must be some explanation.
He stilled, and she could almost see him warring with himself.
“What did I do wrong?” she persisted. Her heartache and confusion could not be contained, the question escaping unchecked. She had to know!
He cradled her face in his hands, conflicting emotions burning in his eyes. “I didn’t want to. You did nothing.” He stared at her mouth and then into her eyes again. “What am I going to do with you, Lydia?”
Love me! Love me! Love me!
These words, however, she kept to herself. He wasn’t ready. If she pushed too hard, she’d lose him forever.
But there had to be a way. Deep down, she knew with every fiber of her being that Jeremy loved her as much as she loved him. Anyone else would consider her naïve to convince herself of this, but she didn’t care.
She simply knew this about him.I know him.
He reached up and, wrapping his fingers around her wrists, extracted himself from their embrace. Stepping back, he closed his eyes as though summoning strength.
Strength to resist her? Or his own urges? His own desires… and dreams?
“Work will begin in the warehouse tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll have contracts sent over for you to sign in the morning.”
She could only nod in response, and he took another step backward.
“Ollie is waiting for you,” she reminded him.
He sketched a quick bow and pivoted, his shoes echoing in the vast foyer as he strode toward the door.
He’d kissedher twice yesterday.
Not once, but twice, for God’s sake!
Jeremy leaned forward, urging the stallion he’d chosen to ride that morning faster as he raced along the nearly empty road that made up most of Rotten Row. Perhaps the speed could clear his head.
Zeus’s hooves ate up the ground all too quickly, sending the cool morning air rushing past his face and through his hair. When Jeremy drew the spirited animal to a halt, the horse protested, throwing back his head and rising momentarily onto his hind legs.
Precisely how Jeremy felt, if he was to be perfectly honest.
Zeus lowered his head with a disgruntled shake and then rose up a second time, but he failed to unseat his rider. Jeremy had been prepared for it, leaning forward and digging his heels into the horse’s sides.
The sound of another rider approaching had Jeremy grimacing until a familiar voice called out.
“Incredible animal!” Baxter was dressed in full morning attire, top hat in place, and riding a white mare who, although nearly as large and haughty as Zeus, was much better mannered.
“He needs work, but he certainly shows promise.” Jeremy rubbed his hand along Zeus’s slick, black neck as Baxter drew up alongside them.
“Necessary, I know, but I’m almost sorry to see the such a magnificent beast broken.”
Jeremy nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. He turned to ride the length of the row again, and Baxter followed.
“I was going to come by your office today,” Jeremy admitted. The park was all but empty and perhaps a better place for this conversation than the club would have been.
