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“Become pregnant. That is excellent advice, and John is an excellent physician. You must listen to him.”
“After a time, I didn’t really think about it much,” she confessed. “I wasn’t looking to get married again.”
“Then I came along and forced the issue.”
“You rather did,” she said.
He lifted her hand and briefly rubbed it against his cheek. “And I can’t apologize for that.”
“Braden, I might never be able to have a baby,” she said. “You do realize that, now.”
“And you think I won’t want to marry you if you cannot?”
“Well, most mendowant their wives to have children.”
“Samantha, I would gladly welcome children, but the Kendrick family is hardly lacking in bairns. There are several we could borrow on a moment’s notice, I assure you.”
She shook her head. “Jinglebrains.”
“Yes, but it’s also the truth. We have many children to love in this family, and they would certainly love you back. My only real sorrow is that you had to endure such a terrible experience.”
“Are you saying that it truly doesn’t bother you?” she skeptically asked.
“Only for your sake does it bother me. It certainly doesn’t change my feelings or my desire to marry you.”
She blinked a few times. “Huh.”
Braden pushed himself up. He took Samantha’s hands and pulled her to her feet, so that she was leaning slightly into him. Sliding his hands down to her waist, he drew her closer. Silk skirts rustled, drifting around his legs.
“Would you like me to show you how much I still want to marry you?” he murmured.
She stared up at him, briefly pressing her lips together as if trying to stifle a smile. “Maybe.”
Braden gazed into her beautiful eyes. They were now like polished amber, bright with relief and something so entrancing that it brought his head down until their lips softly touched.
Samantha breathed out an endearing little sigh that vibrated against his mouth. Her hands, which had curled into small fists, opened, and she grasped his coat as if to hold herself steady. Her lips trembled under his in a kiss so gentle that it made his heart ache. Braden longed to sweep her into his arms and shelter the darling lass from every bad thing that had ever touched her precious life.
But a moment later, she parted her lips and kissed him with such unexpected enthusiasm that it almost took him out at the knees. When he staggered a bit, she huffed out a chuckle. Then she slipped her hands around his neck, pressing close. Braden tightened his grip on her waist, relishing the feel of her soft breasts against him and her lithe body under his hands.
And she was so damn responsive, opening to him without hesitation when he slid his tongue between her lips. Samantha tasted of sherry and an innocent eagerness that made every muscle in his body strain to explore her luscious depths. It was a kiss as wild and sweet as spring in the Highlands. And now that her walls had finally tumbled, she gave not a hint of a retreat. Instead, she went up on her tiptoes, pushing her fingers through his hair as they tangled tongues in a delicious, sensual dance.
She was going to drive him completely insane, and he would happily let her. But somewhere in the back of his mind, a warning bell tolled. He should stop this. He should—
When Samantha sucked on his tongue, every rational thought dissolved in a massive surge of lust. Braden slid a hand to the curve of her backside, pulling her tight against him. She breathed out an entrancing moan and sensation bolted through him. His body went hard as iron, and his hand instinctively curled around her bottom. He nudged her against his—
“What is the meaning of this?” roared an all too familiar voice from the doorway.
Samantha immediately froze, as did Braden. Then she pushed against his chest to put space between them, and in her panic almost tripped over her skirts.
Mentally cursing, Braden eased her around to face Lord Beath, all the while keeping a protective hand on her waist.
The old bastard stood in the doorway with Bathsheba by his side, shaking her head. He was clearly spitting mad, but something besides fury gleamed in his hard gaze. It looked like triumph, knowing that he finally had Samantha exactly where he wanted her.
Not bloody likely.
“Samantha Penwith, have you no shame?” thundered Beath. “My granddaughter is in the other room, while you engage in—”
Bathsheba cut him off by hastily stepping in front of him. “Let’s not jump to conclusions, shall we? I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation, isn’t there, Braden?”
