Page 24 of The Duke's Only Desire

With a preoccupied nod, she swept a gaze around the study, then out into the hall, as if she could take in the entire house with a single glance. “It hasn’t changed since I was here last. That winter’s night when Grandmama brought me here to meet your father—there was snow then, too. Do you remember?”

“Yes.” He had never forgotten it. Or her. Even then, while still in the schoolroom, she’d had an air about her that was striking. But he didn’t want to dredge up old memories. “Did you sleep well?”

“Very.” Faint embarrassment touched her lips. “I was so exhausted from traveling that I slept away the entire morning.”

“So I heard.” He circled the desk and leaned back against it, propping a hip against the top as he reached for his cup of coffee. “Darla was helpful, then?”

“She’ll make a fine lady’s maid.”

“And your rooms?”

“Lovely.”

“I know they’re a bit dated.” He lifted the cup to his lips. “You can redecorate and personalize them however you’d—”

“You kissed me.”

He choked on the bitter liquid.

When he stopped coughing and darted his gaze up at her, her brow was raised in challenge, and her hip rested sassily against the doorframe. She stared boldly back. At that moment, he knew she would be just fine here.

Him, on the other hand…

He cleared his throat and frowned into his coffee, as if he could blame it for his surprise. “It wasn’t what you—”

“Don’t tell me it was a dream. I remember it clearly.” She pushed away from the door and came forward, stopping in front of him, arms crossed. She repeated bluntly, “You kissed me.”

“Actually,” he corrected, pointing his cup at her, “youkissed me.”

Her mouth fell open as she gaped at him.

Under the accusation of her stunned stare, he shrugged. “Who am I to stop a beautiful woman from kissing me?”

She asked in a low voice, “Was I undressed yet?”

He brought the cup to his lips and winked at her. “I’ll never tell.”

Her hand flew to her lips as soft laughter tumbled from her.

His chest tightened at the lilting sound. Dear God, she was lovely. She was as bright as the winter sun, her hair golden in the diffused light and her cheeks holding a captivating hint of pink. The room was a little cold; he’d allowed the fire to die down while he’d been working. But her presence radiated a warmth he hadn’t realized was missing until she appeared.

Tilting her head curiously, she walked forward until she stopped just in front of him. Her eyes sparkled as they swept over him, taking him in from head to toe. He had planned to spend the day working, both here in the study until she awoke and then outside on the estate, so he’d donned heavy work clothes and hadn’t bothered to shave. But he suspected it wasn’t his appearance she was considering.

“There were times during the past few days,” she told him, almost musing as she continued to search his face, “when being with you was like before, when I had been with the old Shay. Like now.” Her eyes met his. “It’s nice.”

It wasn’t nice. It was torture.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

And you have no idea how much I longed for you.But he would never admit that. Instead, he answered with a tight smile and looked down at the little breakfast tray still sitting on his desk. “Have you eaten? I asked Cook to send up a tray for you. I told her how much you love marmalade and chocolate.”

“Also the old Shay to remember something like that about me.”

I remembereverythingabout you.“It’s only breakfast.”

The chastising gleam in her eyes proved she knew he was lying. But she didn’t challenge him. Instead, she asked a question he knew to be just as loaded—“How should I spend my day?”

Naked and drowsy in my bed, letting me make love to you over and over…But that wish could never be uttered aloud. He didn’t deserve her, and she certainly didn’t deserve a scarred monster for a lover. From the way she’d gasped when she first saw his face in London, she’d scream if she saw the other scars that marred his body. He set down his cold coffee. “However, you’d like.”