Page 20 of Unwilling Bride

“Never.” I move the stool back over and sit on the edge of it, so our knees are touching. “I want more of what we started. There will never be a replacement for that.”

She clasps her hands in her lap, her shoulders pulling slightly inward. She’s guarded, keeping herself safe. From me. Jaysus, I know I scared her, but I didn’t realize how much until just now. Gently taking one of her hands, I brush my thumb over her knuckles.

“I know what you saw the other night frightened you. I realize how terrible that was for you and what you must think of me now. But I want you to know that I willneverhurt you. There is nothing more vile to me than a man who hurts a woman, and I’ve done a lot of things I can’t be proud of, but never that.”

My insides squeeze at the thought ofanyonehurting her.

“And yeah, my job can be scary, but that’s all it is—my job. It’s my work, and sometimes I hate it, but for now, it’s what I have to do. One day, I’ll be out, and I’ll never come home like that again. But just think, Charlie. If I’ll go that far for my job, imagine how far I’ll go for someone I love.”

Her eyes lift to meet mine, her lips parting. I’ve struck a nerve.

“You think you could…love me?” she says.

One side of my mouth turns up. No one has ever asked me that before.

“I think the bigger question is if you could ever love me,” I reply.

It’s hard for someone to love a man who destroys things for a living. But Charlie? She’s not like me. She’s right deserving.

Her brows furrow for a moment, and then she nods slowly as if she’s testing her answer out. Feeling it. Getting used to it. Making sure.

“I think so,” she says. “But…I don’t know if I know how to.”

Taking her other hand, I lean closer to her.

“I’ve got enough money to support you. I’ve got enough attraction and interest to want to get to know you, thoroughly and completely. And I sure as hell have enough honor that when I take my vows for you, I’ll die before I break them. An Irishman is nothing without his word. I’m patient and fair, lass, and if there’s something more you want for your life than just being a wife, I’ll help you make it happen.”

Her eyes go glassy, but she holds back her tears. Strong, she is. But I wish she knew that I’d never consider it a weakness to cry in front of me. It’s something I’ll have to teach her, then.

Clearing her throat, she blinks a few times and then runs a hand down her ponytail. The sassy confidence is back. “Well, what now? Back to your place?”

I laugh. “I’m hoping it’ll be your place, too. It’s already not the same without you.”

Charlie stands up and slips between my legs, her arms wrapping around my shoulders. “I don’t know. It’s going to need alotof work to be up to my standards. And I’ve always wanted to live in Nob Hill, now that you mention it. I just love the city.”

“Anything you want, lass.”

She smiles, wide and genuine, with true happiness. Christ, I want to grab her ass and lift her onto my lap, take her mouth and show her what’s in store for her later tonight.

“All right, tough guy. Anything I want. Just you remember thatafterwe’re married.”

I see the hope that I’m feeling reflected in her eyes. Hope for a future. One that’s just for us.

Out of willpower, I grab her ass. “Believe me, I will.”

She takes my hand and tugs me off the stool.

“Good,” she says. “You can start remembering right now. Let’s go home.”

“Only if you let me carry you over the threshold, lass. I won’t have it any other way.”

Charlie laughs, and warmth spreads through me as I imagine spending the rest of my life making her laugh exactly like that.

“I think that can be arranged,” she says.