Better Than Perfect
“I won, you know.”Sprawled on her belly across Adam’s chest while idly searching for four-leaf clovers amidst a blanket of green as their clothes dried, Eloise cast him a mischievous smirk over her shoulder. “I told you I would.”
Basking in the sun with his arms behind his head, he responded with a noncommittal grunt and didn’t even bother to open his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Our kissing wager. That we made at the ball.” She smiled smugly. “I’ve won, and you’ve lost, and now you have to give me whatever I want.”
Now he did open an eye. “You cheated.”
“I certainly did not,” she said, offended that he’d even dare suggest such a thing. Rolling onto her side, she flicked his bicep. “I’m the victor fair and square.You’rejust a sore loser.”
“If placing yourself half-naked in a pond to tempt me isn’t cheating, I’m not sure what is.”
Another flick. “I wasn’t trying tointentionallylure you in.”
“You could have fooled me.”
“How did you even know I was here?” she wondered. “You’re meant to be playing croquet.”
“I hate croquet.” He caught her hand, absently kissed her knuckles, then released it. “I like this much better. As to how I found you…I’m not sure. I went for a walk with no specific destination in mind. Then there you were.”
“There I was,” she said quietly as their gazes met.
A burdensome line creased his brow. “Eloise, I should–”
“No,” she interrupted.
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“But I can guess what youplanto say.” Tensing, she went back to looking for clovers. “It’s what you’ve said every other time we’ve found ourselves in this situation. But I don’t want to hear it. Iwon’thear it. Not again. What we did…what we’ve done…it wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t an accident. And I refuse to feel guilty for it, or embarrassed, or ashamed.”
His fingertips, light as a feather, traced the sensitive line of her vertebrae. “You’re right,” he said after a pause.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”
“You heard me,” he said wryly.
“Yes, but I want to hear itagain.”
He lifted a drying curl off her shoulder. “Has anyone ever told you how infuriatingly obstinate you are?” He rubbed the curl between his fingers. “And beautiful. You’re gorgeous, Eloise.”
The way he said it, his tone low and a slightly accusatory, made her lips curve. “You’re not completely hideous yourself, Mr. St. Clair. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a bride.” The instant the words were out, she wished that she was capable of snatching them back.
Gorgeous Eloise? No. Stupid,stupidEloise!
Why would she ruin such a rare, precious moment? Adam was as vulnerable and open as he’d ever been with her. Perhaps as he’d ever been with anyone. But no sooner had she spoken than she felt his muscles contract and his wall–that blasted wall he used as a shield–slammed into place.
The man was like a wild dog pacing the tree line, loathe to leave its den. A tentative sniff at the treat she held, and then one wrong move and he’d bolt for the forest again…hackles raised and fangs bared.
Three steps forward, five steps back.
“Trouble,” he said, chewing on the two-syllables as if they were a particularly tough piece of meat. “All I’vehadis trouble. Starting with the park when you ran into me, all you’vegivenme is trouble.”
Eloise had hackles of her own, and they stood on point as she rolled off him and snatched up her shift. It was still damp in places, but she didn’t care as she yanked it over her head. All she cared about was that Adamdidn’tcare about her. Not in the way she cared about him. In the way she wanted. Not in the way she deserved.
Maybe she wasn’t perfect.
All right, maybe she was asfarfrom perfect as a lady could possibly be.
