Page 44 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“That’s a chance I’m willing to take if you are.”

That was all she had to say. Cradling her hands in his, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. When he did, Martine felt her heart do a flip inside her chest. She liked David’s kisses. They made her feel pretty and safe and special. He pulled back, smiling at her, his face so perfect it was like a sculpture. Never had she seen such perfect skin and nice cheekbones on a man. Not a common man anyway. His hair was down to his shoulders and wavy, his brows dancing atop his ochre eyes. The most amazing thing about his face was his mouth. Not just the way he kissed but the shape of it and the way little creases formed when he smiled. To top it off, that dimple on his chin made him irresistible.

“I have to admit something to you now,” she said, her voice in a mere whisper as well.

“What is it?” he asked, his face still right in front of hers.

“I was happy to take your inn from you.”

He frowned and pulled back a little. “You were?”

“Yes,” she said with a nod. “I knew if I owned this inn I would be able to be with you whenever I wanted.”

“Pardon me, my lady, for saying that you could do that even without taking away my business.”

“Nay, I couldn’t,” she told him. “But now I have a reason to be here. This was the best way I could think of to see you again.”

This time he boldly leaned forward and kissed her hard and long. Just the taste of his essence on her tongue made her want to bask in his pleasures and do so much more. She felt as if she were falling fast for David Stone and wasn’t really even sure why. Could it be as Lady Devon said? Was it just Martine being a woman and wanting to find true love with a man the way her cousins Raven, Lark, and Eleanor had? Or was it because after seeing baby Martin, she wanted a child of her own? Mayhap it was all those things, but she felt it was so much more. It was because she found a man who cared about her and seemed to value her opinion. Noblemen usually thought a lady was only good for birthing him heirs. Never would a nobleman even listen to a one of Martine’s ideas. David liked her ideas and was eager to try them. He made her feel special.

Mayhap she was moving too fast, but part of her really didn’t care. She would get to know David Stone better in the time she spent here now that she was owner of the inn. Then again, she didn’t need more time because she already knew he was the one she wanted. Hopefully, he felt the same way about her. She supposed the next few days or weeks or however long she’d be here would give her the answers she needed.