“Because you believe that I’m incapable of helping myself?” he asked. “I assure you; I can control myself.”
“No, no,” she said quickly. “It is because I am no longer sure of myself.”
It took a moment for her words to sink in.
“Pardon?”
“I’m saying, I’ve noticed certain reactions that I have whenever you are near and I can’t help it,” she said, glancing down quickly. “I’m mortified to admit this, but for the sake of my apprenticeship, I feel that I must tell you.” Her gaze lifted and James felt the air go out of him. “I believe I’m attracted to you.”
The honesty, however small and seemingly insignificant, affected James in more ways than he’d like to admit. She was attracted to him. Outside of their work together and their differences in social standings, here was a woman, whose very image had haunted him for months, admitting that she felt a certain way about him.
James had always prided himself on his practicality. Even in dire situations, his mantra to “trust the journey” had always managed to bring peace and stillness to any circumstances he found himself in.
But this was something he had never experienced. With Catriona, it had been mostly one-sided and even when she did finally admit to having some feelings for him, it had taken nearly a year and he knew now that said feelings were likely more platonic than romantic.
Yet Grace Sharpe didn’t seem to be hindered by shyness or even social decorum. She was straightforward and rather blunt in her confession and it was… Stunning.
She looked away once more.
“I’m sure you understand why then, that I would like to end my apprenticeship.”
And that was the last thing he had expected to hear. James felt a knot form in the pit of his stomach at her suggestion.
“No,” he said, leaning forward still. “Grace, you don’t have to stop your studies because of this.”
“It will hinder me.”
“It won’t. I won’t allow it.”
“How can it not?”
“Well, because. We are two practical, well-behaved people who can be aware of a symptom without provoking it. We’ll just take the extra caution to not be affected by it.”
“Do you really believe that we can?”
“Absolutely. Besides, it’s not as though we cannot control ourselves. Right?”
He held out his hand, in a gesture of good faith and with a slight smile, Grace took it.
“Right.”
With a single shake of their hands, they agreed to continue their professional relationship while ignoring whatever silly feelings might be between them. Yet in the next moment, her smile vanished and a force beyond both her and James seemed to settle around them.
His thumb glided over hers and the air began to thicken with tension. Grace’s gaze was transfixed on their hands when she suddenly pulled his hand back toward her. It was not enough to command him anything and yet he went toward her, as if she possessed the strength of ten men.
Grace’s other hand came up and she stroked the edge of his jaw.
“I like your beard.”
What a silly thing to make a man’s heart beat, but beat it did.
“Do you?” he asked gruffly.
“Yes,” she said, her voice soft as her gaze moved over his face. “Perhaps, in the name of science, you might oblige me just this once. So that I might make a decision possessing all the facts.”
“And what facts are you hoping to acquire?”
“Basic ones. Facts based in human nature and instinct.”
