Friends?Was that something they could do, considering their past? How could she expect to just be friends when at night she dreamed of his sultry kisses and the tender way he had held her? How could she forget his hypnotizing green eyes that had stared at her so intently until she succumbed to his adorable charm?
And pray, howcouldshe be his friend when jealousy crept inside her while watching him stare at other women and flirt with them as he had once done with her? She could not control her feelings. The best way to stop this vicious cycle that pulled her into his seduction was to never see him again.
“Cilla?” he whispered.
She blinked awake, and it took a few seconds longer to gain her bearings. How long had she been asleep? The fire hadn’t gone down very much, so perhaps it had only been a few minutes.
“Yes,” she answered groggily.
“I want to thank you for everything you have done.”
Her heart softened from his sincerity. “You are most welcome, Gavin.”
“And thank you for calling me by my name.”
She smiled but didn’t answer.
From under the blankets, his hand shifted and slid around her waist. She sucked in a breath. What could he possibly be thinking? Had he forgotten that she was only doing this to keep him warm? Perhaps he wastoowarm, because now her body was burning.
“It takes a woman with an extremely kind heart to save a man’s life.” He tilted his head back enough for her to look into his eyes. “You, dear Priscilla Hartwell, are the very image of this woman. Not only did you save me from undue suffering from my allergies last night, but today, you are saving me from catching pneumonia. I wouldn’t want to be trapped in this cottage during a raging storm with anyone else but you.”
A lump formed in her throat, making it hard to swallow. “I appreciate the sentiment, but—”
“I promise you this here and now. I will never break your heart again.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. What exactly did he mean by that? She prayed he didn’t expect her to fall for his charm again, because that wasn’t going to happen. “I… I must say, that relieves me greatly.”
“What I did to you the first time we met was selfish. I was so wrong to treat you so unkindly and not consider your feelings. I pray you will forgive me, because the anguish from the guilt of what I have done to you is worse than my suffering with my allergies.”
Her chest tightened, and she could scarcely think of a reply. She knew his charm, but this, now… He was being truthful. Shedoubted this was a way to seduce her—even though if she didn’t gain control of her emotions, she might fall prey to his charm once again.
His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her heart skipped a beat… or several, actually. Against her will, her breathing quickened, and her insides trembled. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let him kiss her. He couldn’t possibly think she would allow that, could he?
But just as she prepared herself to stop him, he lowered his head back to her shoulder and snuggled closer. He must be insane, or perhaps it was her who was losing her mind. Yet, for the life of her, she didn’t want to pull away from the comforting, warm cocoon their bodies and the blanket had made.
Perhaps she was ill and didn’t know it. That could be the only explanation for not wanting to pull away.
It was a good thing nobody knew about this. And she would do whatever she could to make certain nobody ever found out.
Chapter Eight
Gavin’s stiff bodywoke him from a pleasant dream, but when he realized he was still cuddled against Priscilla, he knew it hadn’t been a dream at all. A smile stretched his lips. He didn’t dare move for fear he would awaken her. But the slow and steady beat of her heart, which he had had the privilege of listening to all afternoon, told him she was still asleep.
For someone who had hated him so desperately, she’d softened quickly enough when she thought he was going to freeze to death. And to be quite honest, he had thought the same. He couldn’t remember ever being that cold. However, now he couldn’t remember ever being this warm before, and the fire had nothing to do with it.
He peeked toward the hearth. The fire was nearly out. He should add another shelf soon, and yet he didn’t want to move. Lying against Priscilla was too nice.
A light moan rattled through her throat as she shifted on the couch. The movement brought him lying almost next to her, but now his head was closer to her chest. This wasn’t good at all. As he was a former rakehell, familiar feelings of desire strummed through him, reminding him that he had once kissed her sweet lips, and they had been heavenly. He had held her in his arms, not once, but twice, and now he wanted to experience that rush of desire again.
Slowly he lifted his head to study her beautiful face. He had always thought of her as pretty, but now she was exquisite. There was something different about her now, which he couldn’t quite understand. Was it because she had told him she didn’t want to have anything to do with him and he wasn’t used to rejection? But in the back of his mind, he knew that wasn’t the reason she had become intriguing to him.
With her asleep, he could stare at her the way he wanted, the way he couldn’t during his grandmother’s afternoon social earlier today. Priscilla’s dry hair hung around her shoulders, making her very desirable. He really shouldn’t be thinking this way. Not about her. He didn’t want to start something he couldn’t end. And he had promised her he wouldn’t break her heart again.
After he inherited the title of duke, his grandmother encouraged him to rebuild the family’s reputation after his father had destroyed it. No longer could Gavin act irresponsibly, and he had taken on the task of making himself and the family name look good in Society’s eyes. And if he hurt Priscilla again, he would never be able to forgive himself.
Frowning, he sighed. Which, of course, meant that he couldn’t kiss her, and he especially couldn’t have any feelings of desire for her. She’d told him they were friends, and so he must stick to that, even though it would be extremely difficult.
She stirred and opened her eyes. They were hazed over with sleep, but she peered directly at him. He held his breath, waiting for her to yell at him to get off her. But as the awkward seconds passed, all she could do was stare. Then… she smiled.
