“I never stopped loving you, Cait. Did you stop loving me?”
Tears welled in her eyes again. “Never, Julian. I tried, but I could not.”
He reached out to her. “You will give me another chance?”
His heart pounded while he waited for her answer.
“On one condition.”
He nearly held his breath, afraid of what she might say, even though he would agree to anything. “What?”
“You made decisions for me,” she began. “You should have come to me and explained or at least allowed me to help you find a solution, even if it would have done no good. You also decided for me that we could not be together because you would be poor. I do not want the love of a gentleman who has so little respect for me that he decides what is best for me.”
That is exactly what he had done, but he’d made those decisions because he knew that if he saw her again, he’d weaken his resolve and not do what was necessary.
“You are correct, and I apologize.”
“Is this a habit you will keep, or will you at least allow me to be a part of decisions that need to be made, especially when they affect me.”
“You will be my counsel, always Cait. I will never make a decision for you, or us, again.”
“That is all I needed to know.”
“Will you now allow me to court you properly.”
Then she smiled. “Yes.”
Julian did not give her a chance to change her mind but pulled her into his arms. She went willingly and soon they were kissing. His mouth devoured hers. He had been waiting five years to kiss her again and pulled her tightly against his body, his hand pressed against her back, the fabric soft against his palm.
Cait threaded her fingers through his hair as she tilted her head so that he could deepen the kiss further, their breaths melding, heartbeats becoming one, passion heating their veins.
It was as it had been before. When they touched or even kissed, flames ignited, and it was all he could do not to lay her in the sand and make love to her as he had imagined doing for so many years.
He grasped her hip before his hand slid to her bottom, bringing her flesh against him so that she could feel his need.
“Does this mean you are to be married?”
Julian and Cait immediately pulled away from the other and turned to find Lady Priscilla smiling at them.
He’d forgotten where they were and that anyone could come across them, which apparently Lady Priscilla had.
“I am not certain,” Cait called as she lifted her cloak and began to stroll toward Lady Priscilla.
His heart set to panic as Cait’s words sank in. “Not certain?” After the way they had just kissed and the words they had shared, she was not certain.
“Dear, I witnessed your kiss, and Lord Shorewood touching where he should not have. You have been compromised.”
“I suppose I have but that does not mean we will wed.”
Lady Priscilla laughed, and Julian rushed forward. Cait was most definitely going to marry him. Except, he could not force her. It had to be her decision to be with him.
“Why won’t we wed?” he asked when he finally reached her side.
“I did not say that we will not, but just never claimed that we would.”
He frowned. She was making no sense.
“One must wait to be asked before a determination can be made.”
