Aye, bad with words he was. And even worse at explaining himself.
“You’re right,” she went on before he could dig himself a deeper grave. “Iamfoolish for bothering to help you, Timothy Cullen. When myactualpurpose was to tell you to stay the blazes away from me!”
He blinked. A rumble started in his chest and escaped from his mouth.
Ire flashed in Pippa’s eyes. “Are youlaughingat me?”
He was trying to stop. He really was. But he’d never met a woman as full of endearing contradictions as Pippa. Who was so intent on protecting herself with a prickly shell that she’d forgotten her own tender heart.
“I should have let you get shot,” she said through pearly gritted teeth. “But since you are regrettably alive, I will deliver my message: call off your mudlarks. I neither want, nor need, your interference in my life. In fact, I’ll be happy if I never see your blasted face again!”
She whirled to leave, and he couldn’t let her go. He caught her by the waist, pulling her between his legs. With her standing and him sitting, they were eye to eye. She shoved at his shoulders, but he held on tight.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
At his apology, she stilled.
He pushed his luck further.
“I wasn’t laughing at you but the situation. It’s amusing,” he admitted. “That you’d save a fellow who you were going to tell to sod off.”
She stared at him, her thick lashes fanning. They were sable, like her fine curving brows, and an alluring contrast to her golden locks.
“Thatwassilly of me,” she said. “The shooter could have put an end to my problems.”
Since her lips had a wry curve, he decided that she didn’t really want him dead. Which was an improvement.
“By the by.” She eyed him. “Why is there a list of people who want you dead?”
“My charming personality?” When she didn’t smile at his jest, Cull sighed. “The mudlarks have enemies. Cutthroats who want to take us over for power and profit.”
“Like that blackguard Crooke who beat you when you were just a lad?”
“Aye,” he said in surprise. “I didn’t think you would remember.”
“My memory is not lacking.”
“Not a single thing about you is lacking.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Are you flirting with me while sporting a bullet wound?”
The words echoed what she’d said to him all those years ago. Because of her, those had been the happiest weeks of his life. Yearning, hot and unrequited, incinerated his control.
“I would flirt with you even if I were at death’s door. I’ve missed you, Pippa.” The truth left him, stark and unstoppable. “I have never stopped thinking about you.”
“You left,” she said stiffly. “Without bothering to say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry. I…I didn’t want to leave, but the mudlarks needed me.”
Uncertainty clouded her brow before she drew herself up. “It matters not. It is all in the past.”
“Not for me.” He pulled her against him, gazing into her wide eyes. “I’ll always dream of you, sunshine. Dream of this.”
Swooping down, he gave her the kiss of his fantasies.
What in heaven’s name are you doing?Pippa’s inner voice protested.Push him away. Push him…ooh…
The voice faded. There was only Cull and the hot possession of his mouth.
