“Are you saying Miss Parker and Mr. Dalton end up together?”
“Yes.” His hand squeezed hers. “They actually fall madly in love. A bit sickening at times, I imagine, but that’s all part of the fun.”
“You’re right. I would have been very upset if I’d read that last month.”
“And now?”
She wasn’t quite ready to tell him all was forgiven. Not when something he’d said had led to additional questions. “You mentioned numerous reasons for choosing not to mention the book. What are the others?”
“First of all, a book is a very personal thing. It offers a glimpse of the author’s mind, revealing private thoughts they’d never dare mention in public. Most importantly, however, is the fact that I’m not the only author, so speaking of it would have broken a promise I made to the others.”
Emily blinked. “What do you mean you’re not the only author?”
He gave her a funny look. “You still don’t know?”
“What I know is that it would appear as though you have been keeping more than one secret from me.”
His eyes widened. “Let us not speak of keeping secrets when you yourself are as guilty of that as I am.”
The reprimand was a swift reminder of everything she herself had intended to share with him. When the time was right. “Who told you about me being the Lady Librarian?”
“Does it matter?”
“No. I don’t suppose it does.”
Silence fell between them, expanding until Callum blew out a breath and told her, “It was Westcliffe. He and Corwin are the other two authors.”
Her lips parted for a brief second and then she shook her head while allowing a broad smile to capture her lips. “Of course they are.”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” she promised. Her smiled faded and it became clear that her thoughts had strayed toward something else. She gave him a hesitant look. “Will you insist that I set down my quill if we marry?”
“If?”
“All things considered, I didn’t want to presume.”
He clenched his jaw. An intense emotion burned in his eyes. He sent a quick look over her shoulder, and then he suddenly spun on his heel and pulled her along behind him.
Emily gasped as she tripped, her hand grabbing hold of his upper arm in a desperate attempt to keep her balance. “What are you doing?”
“Proving something once and for all,” he muttered.
Emily gasped as she quickened her steps, doing her best to keep up with his longer strides
“What’s that?” she asked, a little alarmed by the wild determination with which he cut a path straight to the folly.
He didn’t respond, nor did he slow his pace when they reached the domed marble structure. Instead, he led her inside the circular space and drew her toward the right, immediately behind a large pillar.
His chest rose and fell with each ragged breath as he pushed her against the cool stone. He was close – too close for her to keep all her wits about her. Closer still, as he leaned in.
Emily’s pulse leapt. Heat washed her face as he trailed his fingertips over the side of her face.
“Engaging in a fake courtship and getting engaged in the spur of the moment, have proven to me that I’m happiest knowing you will be mine. And no, I will not make you set down your quill once we’re married – as we shall be if I have anything to say about it. Because if there’s anything I have learned from spending these past few weeks together, it’s that I love you.”
Her heart fluttered. “You do?”
“Desperately, wholeheartedly, with every fiber of my being.”
