“Vegetables too,” he said and popped another piece of meat in his mouth. It melted on his tongue, leaving behind a rich, smoky flavor infused with mint and cracked pepper.
“We can make a vegetable and herb garden just like the one you had in France.” A smile of enthusiasm animated her face. “What shall we put in it?”
“Tomatoes are my personal favorite, but we should also have some cucumbers, runner beans, and all manner of root vegetables like carrots and beetroots.” They were planning their domestic future together, and Caleb was enjoying every second of it. This was so much better than parents making all the important decisions for a bride and groom because this was after alltheirlife, not their parents’, and Caleb had every intention of making sure they lived it as they chose. On their own terms.
But that did not mean there weren’t practical issues to consider.
“I would like to discuss the settlement with you,” he told her once they had finished their meal. Mr. Jarvis had been to remove their plates and refill their glasses, and they now awaited dessert. “When we attended the assembly, Mr. Townsend brought up your dowry.”
Mary nodded. Her eyes had grown distant, and her expression was now guarded. “It consists of ten thousand pounds.”
“That is no small sum.”
She scoffed. “Mr. Townsend was more than eager to put it to good use on his farm.” She lowered her gaze and proceeded to study the edge of the table. “How do you intend to spend it?”
Realization dawned and he reached for her hand, clasping it firmly between his own. “I have no need for your fortune,” he blurted with every intention of making her see that all he wanted was her. “My intention is to grant you full control of your dowry, so you may use it as you please.”
Raising her head with a jolt, green sage eyes stared back at him in wonder. “But as my husband, you will have every right to control it.”
“Control is the last thing I want,” Caleb said. “And you are an intelligent woman, Mary, so I know you will spend your money wisely.”
“You are…” Her lower lip started to tremble, and he saw to his sudden dismay that tears had pooled against her lashes. They shimmered like dew drops caught in the early morning light, and they made him ache with an overpowering need to pull her into his arms and just hold her.
“Handsome and roguish?” he offered and waggled his eyebrows.
To his immense satisfaction she laughed. “That too, but I was going to say the most wonderful man I have ever known.”
“Because I am letting you keep what ought to be yours?” He hoped there was more to it than that.
She shook her head quickly. “Because you are kind and considerate. I have known it ever since you brought a branch into the Clearview parlor and whittled it into a fishing rod for Peter.”
Caleb leaned back just as Mr. Jarvis returned with their profiteroles. Setting them on the table, he offered a sweet port which he poured into a fresh pair of glasses. “Is everything to your satisfaction?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mary said and Caleb concurred.
“It has all been delicious so far,” he told Mr. Jarvis. “Our compliments to the chef.”
Pleased, Mr. Jarvis excused himself and vanished. Caleb stuck his fork into his profiterole and was just about to cut a bite off when he glanced at Mary and saw she’d beaten him to it. White cream decorated her lips, and as he watched, she licked it away with the tip of her tongue.
Heat flared, deep in his belly. No other woman had ever tempted him as thoroughly as she did. She took another bite of dessert, and his muscles flexed at the sight of her drawing the pastry from her spoon. His body started to thrum with the need to touch her. Instead, he took a bite of his own dessert, savoring the moist vanilla-flavored filling.
“I meant to add something before when I mentioned your consideration and kindness,” Mary said as she set her dessert spoon aside on her now-empty plate. Pausing, she seemed to struggle a little with how to phrase her thoughts. Eventually, she met his gaze and told him simply, “You should know that I’m losing my heart to you all over again and that this is—”
Unable to resist any longer, he pressed his mouth to hers.
She tasted delicious with an undercurrent of tartness because of the port. Placing his hands on either side of her face, Caleb held her steady and deepened the kiss. She sighed in response and set her palm tentatively against his chest for added support. The pressure pushed at his beating heart, quickening it until it was racing like a wild stallion across the moors.
Curling one hand around the nape of her neck, he slid the other toward her back and pulled her more firmly against him. She was all soft, pliable curves against his much harder form. Placing a kiss at the edge of her mouth, he continued kissing his way along the side of her jaw. Eyes closed, he inhaled her aroma and brushed her tenderly with his lips. She smelled like jasmine on a warm summer breeze, reminding him ofsun-kissed evenings in France where the small white flowers had clung to his garden wall in a fragrant burst of seduction.
Breathing her in, he nuzzled against her and surrendered to the intoxicating effect she wrought on his senses. Her fingers combed through his hair, directing him back to her mouth. He captured it once again, this time with increased urgency and to convey one message above all else: I want you. Right now. In my bed.
They were in a restaurant, for goodness sake, where any number of people could happen upon them at any moment. But Mary did not care. She couldn't explain what had come over her except to say that it wasn't a ‘what’ but a ‘who.’Caleb. He was using his mouth in the most provocative way, and she, wanton that she apparently was when in his presence, was enjoying every thrilling moment.
The possessive way he held her with his strong arms cocooning her body completely, one large hand cradling her head while the other supported her back, suggested he meant to conquer her in the most agreeable way imaginable. Welcoming each advance, she adjusted her position and dropped one hand to his thigh. Without even thinking, she tested the hard, well-defined flesh by pressing down into him with her fingertips.
He responded with a rough growl and nipped at her lips with his own until she grew dizzy. “Resisting you is a true act of discipline, Mary.” He leaned back a little, allowing her to see that his eyes were gleaming like polished glass lit by moonlight. “But I am determined to court you properly, which means I must resist you a while longer.”
Disappointment found a strange companion in gratitude. Even so, she could not stop from asking, “Why?”
