She bit her lip. His words cut her to the quick. It was as if he’d flayed her open and was reading all of her darkest secrets. He was far too observant.
Back at the inn, he ushered her into the dining room and sat her down at a table in the far corner, away from anyone that may happen to wander in. “I shall return shortly.”
She nodded and watched him disappear through the door that led to the kitchens. No doubt he was ordering tea.
Returning a few minutes later, he was all smiles as he sat down across from her.
“Flora will be out shortly with tea.” He passed her a linen napkin and she accepted it, unfolding it and laying it on her lap. Opening the boxes, he’d set on the table, he asked. “Which one would ye like to try first?”
“You should choose. You ordered them after all.”
“For ye. I ordered them for ye. Since ye wouldna tell me what ye wanted, I got one of e’erything I thought ye might like.”
Her eyes widened. “You did that for me?” The kind gesture had tears springing to her eyes. Quickly, she dabbed at the corners, hoping to stop them before they fell. What a fool he would think she was crying over desserts.
“Of course. Now, which one?”
Spotting a creme horn, she smiled. One of her favorite treats. It had been years since she’d had one. Pointing to it, she said, “That one.”
“Ah, an excellent choice. Liam’s wife, Annette, makes the best creme horns ye’ll e’er taste.” He plucked it out of the box and set it on a plate. “Here ye go.”
“Thank you.”
“Ye needna keep thanking me, lass. ’Tis my pleasure.”
Heaven exploded in her mouth when she took a bite. She couldn’t stop the groan of pleasure that escaped her lips.
Her eyes locked with Gunn’s, his blue eyes darkening, as the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips.
Reaching out, he swept the pad of his thumb over the corner of her mouth, coming away with a small dollop of cream. Popping his thumb in his mouth, he sucked the cream from the tip.
Her skin heated. She’d never seen anything so wicked. Had never had such a thing happen to her before.
With a smile, he leaned in. “Ye had a wee bit of cream there.” His voice was low, husky.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“So sweet,” he said quietly. “Just like ye.”
Had he really just said that? The treat in her hand suddenly forgotten, she focused her gaze on his full lips. What would it be like to feel them against hers?
She shook her head, trying to clear it. She was so desperate for affection that she was seeing things where they weren’t.
But when her eyes clashed with Gunn’s again, heavy emotion burned within his gaze. Was it passion?
“I’ve got your tea for ye,” Flora announced beside the table.
Both of them quickly straightened, breaking eye contact, the connection lost. Fleeting.
Gunn cleared his throat. “Thank ye, Flora. Please leave it.”
“Ye dinna want me to pour ye each a cup?”
“Nay. We are all set. Thank ye.”
Jocelyn saw the way Flora’s gaze slid over to her, brows arching high with a knowing smile on her lips. She curtsied and hurried from the room.
“I fear you have given her something to gossip about.”
