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Although she wanted him to hold her and tell her everything would be fine, she knew that things were in jeopardy and there was nothing he could do to help.
In addition to that, she had to steer him away from the subject of her trusting him. It wasn’t about trust, but about her brother’s honor. While honor was an intangible, she knew how her brother felt about it. He had left saying he would handle things and she had to allow him to try.
She was distracted and confused, but she managed to put on a bright smile and tell him, in a purposely teasing tone, “It is you who still does not trust me.”
His thick defined brow arched, “Now what can you mean?”
She laughed and peeped at him, for the moment lost in the aura of what she felt. “I am speaking of the mystery that hangs around your head, sir.”
“A mystery? Me?”
“Indeed,” she said nodding at him. “When you first came to us, Jules said you were recovering from a broken heart…”
“Ah, of course…my broken heart?” he grinned broadly.
“So then, was Jules correct, were you suffering from a broken heart?” she countered.
“Do you think so, minx?” He flicked her nose. She eyed him quizzically,
“No, I never thought so. I
think your pride was wounded, not your heart,” she said audaciously.
He reached for her and brought her in close. She allowed it, for when he was near, everything seemed right with the world. “You are an impertinent girl.” He bent his head and kissed her neck, nibbling toward her ear.
“So I am,” she murmured. “Do you mean to answer me?”
He stopped his ministrations and put his head back, “I suppose I must. Yes, it was my pride. In truth, the young lady in question served to expand my heart, ready it… not break it.”
“Ah,” Star eyed him happily. “How very interesting. I like that, but…did you love her at all?”
He sighed, “Now that I know what love is, I suppose, I did not. She was a beautiful, intriguing woman, quite sought after. She caught my interest and I did think she might be the one. She rejected my suit for as you know, another man and lucky I am that she did.”
Star felt a twinge of jealousy that she immediately shook off. Her hand went to his chest. He covered her fingers with his own.
She frowned. Had she made him think of something that hurt him? She was at once repentant, “I am sorry. I did not mean for you to recall something painful.”
“That is just it, love. It isn’t painful at all,” so saying he brought her in for his kiss, gently brushing his lips with hers, tickling the tip of her tongue with his own before he pulled away and sighed.
“I shouldn’t…I don’t wish to be found like this alone with you. It isn’t seemly,” he said softly taking her hands to pull her up from the sofa.
“Nonsense. Who would come in upon us? Vern is off to town and besides that, he knows what I am…” she said saucily.
“And what are you, my love?”
That he called her ‘his love’ thrilled her to her bones. She wanted more of this with him, more teasing and more kissing, more of everything that had anything to do with him. She eyed him and said, tongue in cheek, “A veritable hellcat.”
He threw back his head and laughed, brought her in for an embrace, kissed her forehead and said, “A darling one, the only one…but, now I must go. I have business in town as well.”
She walked him to the front door, her hand in his and he turned to put her fingers to his lips, “Star, before I go, I ask for a promise. Would you trust me enough to give it?”
“What sort of promise?”
He smiled ruefully, “After you trusted me with your kisses, your touch, your body, will you hold back your trust?”
She hugged him tightly, “No, no, yes then, I promise.”
“So then, allow me to spell it out for you so there can be no misunderstanding. All I ask is that you come to me first…me…before any other, me before your brother even. Don’t allow doubts to sway you. Think of this moment and come to me, only me when you find you need help.”
