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She didn’t care. Chad was a hero, and his kisses had sealed her as his. He kept promising she was the only woman for him, in the most beautiful words and accent known to mankind. Chad wasn’t her dad. Far from it. He was brave and honorable, and Sophie had said he’d be loyal to Hope. She wanted to trust him and turn to him.
“Inspiration from above for sure,” he said, not sounding overconfident like she liked to tease him about at all. “I just knew if Roger had wanted the present near the king, I had to dispose of it and quick. I’m still stunned it was a bomb. Ray has had men combing through the film from the scanner. There are two presents that look the right match. The one we believe it is contained fancy bottles of vinegar and olive oil. The timer and the device that mixed the chemicals in the bottles must’ve been hidden underneath. The scanner didn’t catch it through the distortion of the liquids.”
“Wow.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“You rest, love.” His voice got low, and his accent deepened. “Imagining you in the castle, praying for me, waiting for me … That is exactly the vision I need tonight.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she admitted, turning away from Faith’s speculative gaze and walking into the bathroom for some privacy.
“Are you in earnest?” His voice was deep and husky. She wished she could see him, touch him, taste him. Her blood ran hotter.
“I am in earnest.” The words didn’t sound nearly as cultured and inspiring coming from her.
“Hope … soon I will demonstrate to you exactly how an Augustinian major greets his lady love.”
She trembled and clung to the phone, leaning against the marble countertop.
“Your all-encompassing kiss will inspire me, and I won’t need any rest dreaming of you,” Chad continued, his accent stronger than ever. “Selfishly, I find myself craving more of you, beloved Hope. More kissing, more holding, more time with you. A lot more.”
Hope’s stomach flip-flopped. “I could find it in my generous heart to help you out with that,” she said, biting at her lip to keep from squealing happily.
“I’ll plan on it,” he whispered huskily. “Till morning, then.”
“Okay.” She hated to wait that long. She wanted him here. Now.
“Unless Mum wakes up sooner than that,” he added. “I’ll fly to you as quickly as I can. Believe that.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Happiness rushed through her like a shot of adrenaline. How would she sleep now? She’d wait up all night simply hoping Chad was coming for her.
I will demonstrate to you exactly how an Augustinian major greets his lady love.
“I’ll picture you waiting in that dress. Mind-blowing … when I saw you in that dress. An absolute vision.” His voice was low, as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear their intimacy, because it was too special and only for them.
“Come soon,” she begged.
“I fancy the way you think.”
“You just fancy me.” She was being very bold. Fancy meant love in England. What did it mean in Augustine?
“I could never deny that.”
He loved her. She could feel it. She knew it. It was time to tell him why she’d stopped responding to his calls and texts three years ago. Was she ready for his excuses about Bermuda? She had to trust him, or they couldn’t move forward with a relationship and oh, how she wanted to move forward.
“Goodnight,” he said softly.
“Goodnight.”
Hope leaned against the bathroom counter, clutching the phone to her chest. Ahh. He was extraordinary. That he felt so deeply for her and her alone blew her mind.
How had she resisted him for so long? How could she be so lucky to be the one woman Chad Prescott would never give up on, would pursue for years, deepening their friendship, their connection, and now their love?
She frowned. She needed some explanations about the pictures with Bermuda the day after their first weekend together and why he’d dated Sophie exclusively for months when he’d never done the same with Hope. They would talk it all out and everything would make sense. She hoped.
Walking out into the main area, she put her phone on the dresser.
Faith slid off the bed and faced her. “So … are you finally admitting how much you love Chad? Those kisses before the bomb were insane.”
“They were,” Hope agreed. Had the entire wedding party seen those kisses? What about the media?
