Page 88 of Discovering Her Earl

He studied her face for a moment before turning the question back on her.

“Do you accept it?”

“Yes. I’ve been this way since I was eleven.”

Another small shake of his head.

“No. I meant… That is… Do you accept me?”

Her heart ached for this man who wanted only this simple thing. To be accepted. And to think his own father had refused this small request over and over. Causing these scars that might never heal.

How she wanted to help heal his pain.

She smiled and told him the truth of her heart.

“Yes.”

He needed no more than that single word to bring the smile back to his face.

“Very well then, I will just have to hope your aunt and uncle don’t throw you from the team for your poor selection.”

“I doubt I will be dismissed. They do love me, you know.”

“Yes, it is clear that they do.” A hint of sadness returned to his words.

“I have been rather fortunate to have two families in my lifetime. Both with people who have loved me without me having to do anything. I’ve never even thought of it. It just seemed the way families behaved. But I am sorry you did not have that. I don’t pity you, for you have turned into a fine man, a kind man, who deserves no one’s pity. But I do wish you had experienced what I did.”

“Perhaps if I had been doted on all my life, I would have turned into a right blighter no one could force themselves to withstand. Everything works out as it should in the end. Do you believe that?”

“Yes,” she answered with a bit of hesitation. She normally did believe things had a way of working out for the best. Except, this man’s destiny was written out, and it didn’t include her.

She didn’t know how that could ever be the right thing.

*

Despite his concerns, Elaina was back working on the site the next day. Though Julian had at least managed to keep her off the ladder by pleading she would kill him if she fell again. He kept a watchful eye on her and enjoyed the faces she made when she caught him.

“I am fine, as I’ve told you several times,” she said.

“And I worry for the smallest of reasons as you well know, so your assurances are a waste of your precious breath.”

She smiled and looked around as if confirming they were alone. He had already done as much himself.

“Perhaps a kiss would go further to reassure you.”

Julian pressed a kiss to Lainey’s lips. A simple gesture of thanks for understanding him. Accepting him.

Kissing her, even in such a chaste way, seemed to make his feelings for her grow even more so than when they were intimate. Not that they had been the night before. He preferred to just hold her after what had happened.

It was, perhaps, a different kind of intimacy. Not sexual, but more in some other way.

He’d never felt so connected to another person. So comfortable. He could tell her anything. Perhaps even things he should keep to himself.

But she never backed down from telling him how she felt either. He would give her the same courtesy.

And he felt…

Either he didn’t know, or feared putting a formal word to it. Or maybe it was more powerful to leave it the way it was.