Heart? Busick was in her heart?
Not touching her, not tracing her satin skin was proving more difficult. Yet, when he looked again into her eyes, he saw shadows—caution and something else.
It was time to be a better man.
A man Lionel would be proud of. He anchored his hands to the desk. “I know what’s going on here.”
“You do? You finally figured it out.”
“Yes. We’d just had words. I said something I should’ve kept to myself, and then you risked your life for mine. That’s when I realized what was between us.”
The relief in her eyes disappeared. “Between us?”
“Yes. I hurt you with my commands, my crossness, my orders. You’re in love with me. Who wants to be ordered around when they’ve fallen in love?”
“What?”
“I figured it out. It’s not like I hadn’t seen the signs before. Your injuries are my fault. This risk-taking is my fault. My attraction to you makes things worse.”
A sour look, sort of like Lionel’s face when he sipped the pap milk, crossed LaCroy’s. “I think I should return upstairs.”
“Please. We have a level of honesty and acceptance between us. Let’s talk this through. Women becoming attached is a common thing, and usually I’m much better at ignoring the draw. I’m trying to do better to not lead anyone astray, but you’re different. I find myself drawn to you. I’m enthralled.”
She put her hands to his skull, her fingers sinking into his hair. “Did you hit your head, too?”
His pulse quickened as if his troop had taken on cannon fire.
“There has to be a lump or a hole up here for Your Grace to say something so stupid.”
His face dipped closer to hers. “Is this hysteria? I’m trying to be easy with your feelings and mine.”
The woman laughed. “And, of course, now I’m terminated.”
“Well. I . . . I hadn’t thought that far out. I don’t want you terminated.”
LaCroy chuckled harder. She tried to smother them with her bandaged hand, but they escaped. “Please go on.”
Was she laughing at him or their situation? He played with his cuff. “We’d have to see if we can still work together. It shouldn’t be too painful for either of us. I don’t want misunderstandings. I value your friendship.”
“Let me help you, my dear Duke of Repington. I’m not in love with you, and I quit my employment. I end this farce now.”
“No. Don’t.” He reached for her hand, but she’d jumped from the desk. “I want you to stay. We can forget this, just like we forgot how we met and go on, like normal.”
She tottered a little and turned back to him. “Sorry. I must be swooning again. This love. It’s too much. Yes, I must quit it.”
“No quitting me. The boy needs you . . . I don’t want you to go. I like you here. I like being able to talk with you.”
“Why are you so willing to say such things? Are you sure my ploy to win you by saving your life didn’t work? Have you not accidentally fallen for your hero?”
Maybe he had.
Why else was the thought of her leaving abominable? He clasped her hands in his. “This speech made a great deal more sense when I was telling Lionel.”
“Did he give you advice on your direct address?”
“It actually put him to sleep. So I’ve made a fool of myself.”
“Yes, you have. It’s endearing, though.”
