Page 41 of Moonshine and Magnolias
Not what she had expected him to say. “That’s it?”
“You got a bit more insistent later, but I kept my virtue intact.”
“Oh.” She squeezed her eyes shut and fought the embarrassment. “I’m sorry. Is that why I’m shirtless? Was I trying to seduce you?”
“Wendy.”
His voice held her close, a balm for the past and the future and the right now. Her stomach rolled again, as much from his tone as her imbibing. She didn’t dare look at him.
He brushed her hair back and rested his hand on her shoulder, sending shivers down her skin. When he didn’t say anything, she finally looked up. His eyes were filled with a warmth that found its way to her heart. “I don’t want last night to be our first kiss,” he said. “When that happens, it will be because it’s right. Not because you need validation.”
What did that mean? She didn’t need anyone saying nice things to her to make her feel better. It was a usually a lie, anyway.
“I think you’re pretty,” he continued, his beautiful mouth fighting a grin. “And you’re able to find the best in a bad situation, and can light up a room when you let yourself smile. Being with you has never been boring.”
His words held the ring of truth. Everything that she wanted to hear came so casually from his lips, made her believe she could be what he thought. “You don’t have to tell me this to make me feel better.”
“I’m not.” He smoothed his fingers over hers. “Let me take you out and I’ll prove it to you.”
She wanted to believe the desire in his eyes, the passion in his voice. Instead, she huffed out a quick breath to regain control of herself. “I can’t.”
Rob smiled, the corner of his eyes crinkling. He took her hand and stroked her fingers. The gentle, physical contact had her mesmerized. Why couldn’t she just say she wanted him?
“Look.” Rob caressed her with his thumb. “The woman I saw last night, the pissed-off one who clocked me with a peach. The one with fire and passion. That’s you. That’s who you’re meant to be. Not this woman in smoke and shadows who always pulls her hair up and won’t let anyone in because she fears she won’tmeasure up.”
Pain lanced through her, fast and sharp like an arrow. How did he see so much? “How can you say that? You don’t know me,” she choked out. She wanted to berate him, to defend herself, but her control was close enough to slipping as it was. She couldn’t let that happen.
He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them, his warm breath tickling her knuckles. “I do know you. Don’t close yourself off. You’re feeling something. Tell me what it is.”
Chapter 09
Wendy’s hand clenched in Rob’s grip, but he didn’t let go. He must be insane. Even with the memories of her curves, her soft breathing, her warmth while she lay across him seared into his body, there was no other explanation. She was supposed to be a goal, not a lifetime.
But in the last ten hours, he had a glimpse of the woman she could be, if she stopped trying to fit her preset mold. That was the woman he wanted. And even with the reek of stale cigarettes, a messy ponytail, and makeup streaked on her face, he still had to fight the craving to kiss her.
Well, damn. If he was telling her to stop hiding, maybe he should listen to his own advice. He leaned down, eyes focused on her sensual mouth, which opened slightly at his approach.
She backed off at the last moment and held up a hand between their bodies. “Don’t. It’s too much.” The whisper was practically a plea.
Rob stood up and stepped away from the sofa. “I’m sorry.” He rubbed his hands down the legs of his jeans.
“I can’t be that person. I’ve seen what happens when people fall into their passion and it never works out.” Her voice cracked and she lifted her chin, her green eyes darkening with tears. “I can’t.”
“You can. I’ll help you.” He cupped her head with his hand. When she finally looked at him, he inched closer to her lips. Just one kiss, and she’d see she had it wrong.
She shuddered, her gaze filled with fear and longing, as she scooted away from him “I can’t.” She bolted from the library.
Rob followed, but he stopped at the doorway as she sprinted up the grand staircase and disappeared. He had to slay his own dragons before having a go at hers.
A flash of red hair streaked down the stairs and then Casagnes was in his face, pushing Rob into the library before connecting his fist with Rob’s chin. He stumbled over a chair and hit the display case for the Chippendale secretary.
The other man followed, leaping over the fallen furniture. “What did you do to her?” Sebastien roared, grasping for Rob’s shirt. His accent, barely a hint when they had talked before, charged the words with his emotions.
Rob hit the incensed man’s arms out of the way and retreated to the bookshelf, trying to keep the sofa between him and Sebastien. Rob wasn’t about to go at it with Wendy’s friend, no matter how much he wanted to punch the shit out of the guy for attacking him. Loïc vaulted over the couch to get between them, and the other hulking beast slid in front of Sebastien, preventing either man from striking.
“Your Highness!” the bodyguard shouted.
Rob straightened from his defensive position and released his fists. Your Highness? He studied the man struggling against being restrained. The accent made his familiar face fall into place. An image of Sebastien in a tuxedo donating his sketches for charity flit through his mind, followed by one of him with a socialite on his arm, smirking in the pages of those entertainment magazines his mother was always reading, another of him in a service dress uniform at some formal reception. Christ, the man was a prince? What the hell was he doing here?
