Chapter Ten
Gunn heard thewomen approach before he actually saw them. Loud giggles filled the air. He couldn’t help but smile. He was right when he thought Lizzie would do Jocelyn good.
He hadn’t seen Jocelyn since his impromptu kiss on the cheek the night before. He still couldn’t believe what had overcome him. For whatever reason, it had just seemed like the natural thing to do.
Did he regret it? Not one wee bit.
The door opened, and the two women swept inside, smelling like fresh air and the perfume that he could only assume the modiste used in her shop.
Jocelyn stopped short when she saw him, biting her lip nervously, as she shifted from foot to foot.
Lizzie looked between them and got that glint in her eye that Gunn had begun to realize was trouble. “I will leave ye two alone. There is something I must attend to after being away all afternoon.” Faster than he’d ever seen her move before, she disappeared, leaving just him and Jocelyn in the inn reception area.
“Did ye have a fun afternoon at the modiste?” he asked, not wanting to bring up the awkwardness of the night before.
“Very much so. Once again, I must say thank you,” she said shyly. “I know you do not have the funds for such an extravagant outing and—”
Gunn held his hand up, stopping her midsentence. “Dinna mention it. Ye deserve it. Ye’ve done much for me since ye’ve arrived.”
Time seemed to stand still, the air thick with tension. He would in no way admit to her that he’d taken the last of his available funds to fund her afternoon outing. He had until the end of the month, the middle of next month at the very latest, to turn things around. After that? Well, he would accept defeat and sell. As much as it pained him to do so.
“Are ye hungry?”
“No,” she shook her head emphatically. “We actually had snacks at the modiste.”
“Tea then?”
He hadn’t the slightest idea why he always offered the lass tea. Aye, it was what she drank, but usually he would leave the tea offers to Flora. But it was as if he needed a reason for her not to leave his side. He took a tentative step toward her.
Paused.
Waited to see if she backed away from him.
To his surprise, she took a step forward.
His brows lifted, and he caught his lip between his teeth.
She looked beautiful this afternoon, a healthy glow that he was glad to see warmed her cheeks. Her bruises were all but gone. Unless ye kenned they were there, ye wouldn’t ken.
This time, they both took a step at the same time, and then another, until they were standing so close, he could feel the heat emanating off her body. Her drab gray gown did naught to dwindle her attractiveness.
Taking a dare, he reached out, resting his hands on her hips. He waited a beat. Waited to see if she would push him away. Turn tail and run.
She did none of those things.
Instead, she surprised him and wrapped her hands around his biceps, looking up into his eyes. Her irises the color of the sea, emotion roiling within their depths and he wondered if he was dreaming.
“About last night,” he whispered.
Jocelyn shook her head. “Don’t.”
“Dinna what?”
“Don’t apologize. If that’s what you were going to do, please don’t. I’m not sorry. Surprised? Yes, verra much so. But I didn’t mind.”
His tongue darted out, wetting his lips as her teeth worried her bottom lip, making it plump. Juicy. He wanted to suck it into his mouth. Taste her. Drink her in.
“I want to kiss ye,” he murmured.
