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Oh, how wrong she’d been.
His mouth moved in a seductive slide that made her tremble. And when his tongue slipped out to press open her lips, Samantha couldn’t hold back a moan. He tasted of coffee and heat, and that heat surged through her body. It was like awakening from a long winter slumber and stumbling into the warmth of a bright summer day.
Braden murmured in response, a deep sound of pleasure that vibrated through her body. For several long moments he kissed her with a gentle passion, one she sensed was firmly leashed. She could feel the tension in his muscles and knew that he wanted more—much more.
And, as some dim part of her brain registered with astonishment, so did she.
After deep caresses that reduced her bones to water, Braden finally drew back. One last, gentle nuzzle of her mouth and then he straightened.
Samantha stared up at him. His green gaze glittered with hunger, and with an entirely masculine satisfaction that muddled her insides. She had to resist the deranged impulse to pull his head back down and take his lips in a demanding kiss of her own. Instead, she forced her hands down to her sides, clenching them into fists to regain a measure of self-control.
“That . . . that was quite something,” she managed in a breathless voice.
“Indeed it was.” Braden’s tone, deliciously rough, made her shiver again.
Then he blinked, and a rueful smile curled up the corners of his wonderful mouth. “And now, as much as it kills me, I really must go. Get some rest, Samantha. Doctor’s orders.”
And then he was out the door, leaving her to navigate a world turned upside down.
CHAPTER22
Once settled in the carriage, Samantha tapped Felicity’s hand to get her attention.
“Are you warm enough?” she asked.
With a dramatic sigh, Felicity pointed to the woolen lap blanket swaddling around her waist. Then she gave an emphatic nod.
Yes.
In other words, stop fussing.
It was the first time Felicity had been out of the house in a week, as she was just getting over a heavy cold. Fortunately, she’d recovered well, and John had agreed that she could attend the Kendricks’ party tonight. As it was an intimate family affair, it shouldn’t be too taxing, and Felicity had been tremendously excited by the prospect of a little holiday fun.
Still, Samantha’s nerves were on edge. Putting on a proper appearance tonight was vital, since the official guest of honor was Lord Beath. Theunofficial purpose of the evening was, once again, to try to convince the old bugger that the Kendricks were eminently respectable and that Samantha was perfectly capable of moving in polite societyandtaking care of Felicity.
Fortunately, Felicity’s illness had given them a bit of a reprieve and a chance to plan. Beath had difficulty dealing with his granddaughter at the best of times, so the thought of managing her when she was ill was more than he could bear. He’d grudgingly agreed to allow her to stay in Edinburgh until she’d fully recovered.
That was when the first step of Samantha’s plan had come into effect. When Beath had come calling a few days later to discuss Felicity’s potential move to the country, he’d found himself facing not just Samantha but Bathsheba and Donella, as well.
With her usual gentle warmth, Donella had engaged Beath in a discussion about mutual acquaintances that included the Earl of Riddick, who just happened to be Donella’s uncle. Riddick held one of the most distinguished titles in Scotland and was also, although a kind man, a traditionalist and high stickler. Those qualities appealed to Beath, and accordingly he held Riddick in high esteem. So when Donella had mentioned that her uncle had made a point of asking her to pass on his regards to hisold and valued friend, Beath had been greatly flattered.
“I hadn’t actually written to Uncle about Beath,” Donella had later confessed. “I just remembered that he and Lord Beath knew each other, so I thought it might help.”
“But your uncle is a very good man,” Bathsheba had protested. “I cannot believe that he would put up with Beath’s nonsense for even a minute.”
Donella’s smile was wry. “Uncle thinks Beath is a pompous ass. But he also believes in the proprieties, so he would never be overtly rude to him. That being the case, I thought it was worth the risk.”
As well as ruthlessly using her uncle to appeal to Beath’s ego, Donella had, at Samantha’s suggestion, made several casual references to their various connections to the royal family, including how Kade was a great favorite of the king himself. That bait had been sufficient to lure the old man into agreeing to Donella’s invitation to attend their family party, despite his general dislike of all things Kendrick.
Marrying Braden was Samantha’s trump card, one she preferred to hold for now. His proposal, although much more enticing than she cared to admit, had rattled her. There were a number of obstacles standing in their way—and some very significant secrets that Braden deserved to hear. Just the thought of telling him those secrets made her skin prickle with shame.
Felicity tapped Samantha’s hand, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Nervous?the girl signed.
Samantha flashed her a rueful smile. “A bit.”
Felicity tapped her chest and then touched her index fingers together.Me too.
