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CHAPTERELEVEN
Tillie stomped down the path,her anger rolling off her waves. How dare he think that about her? She’d asked to speak with him to confess her love and he’d assumed she was just using him to best her mother.
The way she’d used Rangeley. Her steps slowed a bit. She had climbed down a balcony and onto a pergola. She tended toward the dramatic at times…
And there had been several elaborate plans in her attempts to avoid marriage. Had Ben told him of all the suitors who’d met with unfortunate incidents in her company? She winced. That might be enough to frighten off any man.
It was just that…she thought that Alex understood her. Even liked her bold nature. Hadn’t he been telling her to find her future with her old fearlessness?
She stopped on her trail. Today he’d seemed angry with her, as though she’d affronted him in some way, but she had no idea what had changed except for her own realization that she’d fallen in love.
What had happened?
He had been walking up the hill with her brother and Rangeley. Could they have said something that had affected his feelings about her? Her brother loved her…but…
She sucked in a breath. He’d also witnessed some of her most egregious attempts to foil potential suitors. And Rangeley…
The sound of horse hooves thundered behind her, and she spun about, her eyes casting down the curve in the trail. Alex appeared, leaning out over the neck of his gelding, his face intent as his horse galloped toward her. She took a half step back even as he pulled up the reins, slowing his progress.
In one fluid motion, he pulled the horse to a stop, swinging off the animal and landing in front of her in a single move that stole her breath. It was so…manly.
She swallowed down her visceral reaction. “Alex?” Her voice trembled as he reached out a hand, touching her biceps.
“Tillie.” His voice was close to a plea. “There is so much I wish to say but I’d like to begin with an apology. I’m sorry. I wanted to talk to you but the words I chose were the exact wrong ones.”
For some reason, that soothed her a great deal, but rather than make her happy, they only brought tears shimmering to the surface once again. What was wrong with her? Those silly little watery feelings were dangerously close to spilling over her lashes once again.
Alex saw them too and stepped closer, lifting his other hand to swipe first one and then the other away before they had a chance to fall. His thumb gently brushed over her lashes in a way that tickled and made her skin tingle the slightest bit.
Which caused any more tears that might have collected in her eyes to dry. Alex had that effect on her.
Effortlessly, he turned every emotion into excitement.
And then his arm on hers, slid to her back as he pulled her closer. When she was pressed to his chest, she slipped her hands about his waist as she buried her head into his shoulder. He smelled of horse, and woods, and leather. He smelled masculine and strong. And just now, she needed some of that strength. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d depended on Millie’s steadfast nature until her sister had left.
She breathed in Alex’s scent again, her arms tightening about him. Alex had that same effect on her when he wasn’t accusing her of using him of course. He’d helped her see herself more clearly, reminded her of what mattered.
His arms tightened around her back as he dropped his chin to the top of her head. “I’m a complete cad.”
She smiled into his shoulder. “No.” Then she lifted her head to look into his eyes. “Did my brother tell you of some of my less-than-charming attempts to end some prospective courtships?”
Alex’s brows lifted. “A bit.”
She shook her head. “No wonder…”
He brushed the underside of her chin as he lifted her chin. “I find your spirit to be one of your finest qualities. I just…”
Tillie studied his face as he waited. “What?”
“I haven’t exactly been understood either.” He shook his head.
Tillie tried to understand him now. But, as usual, she failed. “How so?”
He looked away from her, staring off into the woods. “Most men of my set like to ride…”
“You’re an excellent rider, I just saw it,” she said, holding him even tighter as she continued to study his face.
“Thank you. I appreciate that. But I don’t love the pursuit the way some men do.”
