Page 45 of Along Came a Rogue

“Let’s get settled, shall we?” He took her arm and led her across the room to the bar.

Her heart raced with anticipation. There was nothing sexual about what he’d said, not even an innuendo, yet a shiver raced through her at the tantalizing thought of settling in for the night. With him.

Grey reached for the quill to sign the register and nodded curtly at the bald innkeeper, who finished wiping down the bar and tossed the towel over his stocky shoulder. “We’ll need stalls for the horses and two private rooms for the night, preferably on opposite ends of the hall.”

At that, Emily’s heart somersaulted, and a faint blush heated her cheeks. Oh yes, they were definitely settling in for the night.

“Upstairs to the right.” The innkeeper slid two keys across the bar to Grey. “Payment in advance. Have your driver speak with the stable manager outside regarding your team.”

Grey nodded and handed over enough money to cover the bill. “And a bucket of hot water in the room for the lady, both tonight and in the morning.”

“Aye, sir. And will you and your wife be needin’ anything else?”

And at that, Emily’s heart stopped completely. Your wife. The innkeeper thought they were married, that she and Grey were—oh no.

Or…oh yes? Was it so wrong for the man to think they were married, especially after they’d been intimate, both with their bodies and their secrets? With the affectionate way she was certain she looked at Grey even now and how Grey kept her so possessively close by his side, could she fault anyone for making that assumption when they’d just strolled inside together at sunset?

It meant nothing, she told herself. Just a mistake on the innkeeper’s part.

Still, Grey didn’t correct him, and Emily found herself not wanting him to. A small part of her thrilled at the possibility that Grey might finally think of her as someone other than Thomas’s little sister, as something more than a friend. And her heart wished with all its might that he could somehow find a way to delay his departure to Spain so he could remain with her in London through the rest of her pregnancy, to be with her when her baby was born…if not beyond.

And for goodness’ sake, what harm was there in wondering what it might have been like to have Grey for a husband, for him to be the father of her baby? What sin was she committing to let anyone assume that tonight he truly did belong to her? Surely, even fate couldn’t fault her for wanting that.

“We have everything we need,” Grey answered with an indecipherable glance at Emily.

Mumbling his thanks to the innkeeper, he tossed the second key to Hedley and gestured him outside toward the stable yard to tend to the team. He placed his hand against the small of her back and steered her toward the dining room and the hot meal waiting within.

He lowered his mouth to her ear. “It meant nothing.”

“Whatever do you mean?” She feigned ignorance, although the sinking pinch in her stomach told her exactly what he’d meant.

“A man and woman traveling together—he doesn’t want trouble, so he turns a blind eye and addresses everyone as if they’re wed.”

Her throat tightened as foolish embarrassment swelled inside her, yet she forced her face to remain blank so he wouldn’t see the pain squeezing her chest. “Well, it’s good to know that the innkeeper will help keep my reputation intact.”

“Not just yours. This inn is on the route to Gretna Green. He makes a fine pound off Scottish weddings, I’ll bet.”

Even though she felt the heat of his gaze slide sideways onto her, she kept her eyes straight ahead and nodded, unable to look at him.

Oh, she was such a fool! While she had been wondering what it would be like to truly be his, Grey had been thinking only of the economics of elopement. She’d gone and done exactly what he’d warned her not to do—she’d confused sex with affection, wanting more from him than just his body.

“I see.” She allowed herself to blink just once. Very hard.

He stopped, his hands on her shoulders turning her to face him. He puzzled down at her. “You see what, exactly?”

She gave a small shrug, hoping the simple physical movement could somehow force back the stinging heat behind her eyes. She saw it clearly now, the different ways they lived their lives and the very different goals they had for their futures. That he wanted adventure and intrigue, while she wanted nothing more daring than to be an artist. That he was perfectly content as a rake and a bachelor, while she wanted the chance again for a loving husband and a family, despite her past. That he wanted freedom, and she wanted…him.

“How very different we are,” she whispered simply.

The quiet words hung in the air between them. For a moment, neither of them moved, neither spoke. Then his eyes narrowed with cold accusation, and his hands fell away from her. His jaw worked hard.

“How do you mean?” he demanded.

She shook her head, knowing she could never make him understand. “That you’re who you are, and I’m—”

“That you’re a lady, and I’m a rogue,” he bit out in a voice so low and cutting it stabbed through her. “I warned you about that, if you’ll remember.”

“I didn’t mean that!” Her heart thudded painfully in her chest with sudden panic. Oh God, she was losing him already— “No! I would never think that.”