“You do?” His heart sang with happiness. “I never thought I would hear that from you, especially after the way I treated you.” He kissed her forehead. “Please forgive me for not trusting you enough to hear you out before misjudging you.”
“Why didn’t you want to trust me?”
“Because I’m also in hiding.”
She glanced at his hair. “Is that why you have colored your hair?”
He hitched a breath as his hand flew to his head. “How do you know it’s colored?”
“Because the brown in your hair is fading into black.”
“Then I suppose it’s time to color it again. And yes, that’s why I colored it—because I’m hiding from a man who nearly captured me.”
“You know I won’t say anything.”
He caressed her cheek. “I know.”
“I’m so glad I decided to talk to you. My mother thought I should wait a few days, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep without talking to you.”
“Your mother knows about us?”
“She knows I care for you, but she doesn’t know to what extent my feelings run.”
He chuckled. “I’m so happy you found your mother.”
“I wouldn’t have found her without your help.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I have you to thank for a lot of things.” She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and scooted closer to him.
Broderick groaned. He couldn’t let things go too far. “And I have you to thank for loving me.” He kissed her on the nose then moved off the bed, pulling her with him. “However, I think I need to get you back to your bedroom. If your mother—or father—knew you were in here, we would both be in trouble.”
Giggling, she walked to the door. “Yes, you are correct. Being with you this late at night is definitely wrong—even though it’s so very enjoyable.”
“You are incorrigible.” He touched her chin. “And that is one of the reasons I love you so much.”
She took hold of his hands. “Be with me tomorrow. Spend the day getting to know my mother and brother.”
He nodded. “I will, but only for a little while. I have a meeting to attend.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “Here? In Brighton?”
“Yes. You met one of my crew, Phillip. He and I have a meeting tomorrow.”
She grinned. “As you wish, just as long as I get to have you for a little while.”
“My dear, sweet Emmie. You can have me forever if you wish.”
“I definitely wish that.”
He kissed her one last time then opened the door to his room. She sashayed out, dreamily gazing at him as she made her way up the hallway to her room and was safe.
At least for now.
But being the niece of a man hated so much definitely wasn’t a good thing.
Chapter Twenty
Broderick walked intothe inn, bypassing the section leading toward the bedrooms, and entered the dining area. Immediately Phillip raised his hand from his seat. Broderick nodded and proceeded to his friend’s table.
“Good evening, Daughtery.”
