“Christ.” Tenderly, he thumbed away a tear that slipped free. “How could you not know that?”
“I know you like me in a ph-physical sense,” she stammered, “but I wasn’t sure about the rest. After all, I played those tricks on you. And flirted with the duke. And tonight you said I wasn’t deserving of your trust, made you a dupe—”
“Sweeting, I don’t like you putting yourself in danger. I was angry, and, out of that anger, I spoke unfairly.” He hesitated. “I’ve been lied to before, and I don’t react well to it.”
His words rang a bell. That night in the billiards room, he’d also mentioned his anger being triggered by something that had happened in his past.
Tentatively, she said, “Who lied to you?”
When he remained silent, she said in a rush, “I don’t mean to pry. Well, I do, I suppose, but only because I want to understand you. So I can do better,” she said earnestly. “Bebetter.”
“You don’t need to be anything but you, Tessa. I’m the one who needs to do better.”
His words were a balm to her hurts.
“You don’t need to be anything but you either,” she said softly. “Although if you wish to talk about it…I’m listening.”
Just when she thought he wouldn’t take her up on the offer, he spoke.
“I courted a woman once. I was in love with her, and she led me to believe she returned those feelings. I trusted her, wanted to marry her, but she betrayed my trust,” he said flatly. “She’d never had any intention of marrying me, and by the time I realized she was using me as a means to an end, she’d destroyed my good name and the future I’d planned.”
Tessa’s head whirled. Bennett had never been a disclosing sort, and his revelations only raised more questions.
“You loved her?” she burst out.
“Yes.”
Beneath her bottom, Tessa felt his muscled thighs quiver like that of a stallion readying to bolt, and she asked in a rush, “Do you still love her?”
Bennett stared at her. “Bloody hell, no.”
Relief percolated through her. At least he wasn’t carrying a torch for this mystery woman.
“I’m glad. Because she doesn’t deserve your love,” she said frankly. “Any woman who’d relinquish your heart is a feather-wit.”
He tipped her chin up, looked into her eyes.
“You really believe that,” he murmured.
She nodded. “If you were to give me such a gift, I would never let it go.”
“Tessa…I don’t want to lie to you.” His voice was raw. “I don’t think I can open my heart that way again. That I could love that way again.”
“Oh,” she said faintly. What else could she say?
“I want you, I like you, and, God willing, when this mess is over, I’ll do the honorable thing by you, if you’ll have me.” His gaze was steady. “I would be faithful, committed to your happiness. And I’d lay down my life to protect yours. That is what I can promise you.”
Her heart thumped at Bennett’s proposal. While she might not have his love, she’d have his passion and devotion. How many women had that from their husbands?
Optimism burgeoned alongside joy. Bennett wanted to marry her. He liked heras she was.
I’ll earn his trust.Determination filled her.One day, he’ll put his heart in my safekeeping.
“I’ll have you,” she whispered.
His eyes darkened with hunger and other emotions she couldn’t name.
He growled, “Then you’re mine.”
