Page 143 of If the Slipper Fits
What was keeping him? Had he left with Zeke?
She could not wait another second.
She marched toward the door and reached for the lever just as a soft knock sounded.
“Anna? It’s Caden. May I come in?”
Her heart in her throat, she smoothed suddenly damp palms over her skirts and opened the door. Finding it hard to breathe, much less speak, she gestured for him to enter.
No sooner had he closed the door, than he pulled her close and covered her mouth with his.
With a cry of unabashed delight, she twined her arms around his neck. He was warm and strong and she never wanted to let him go. Dizzying joy bubbled up inside her.
Never taking his lips from hers, he slid one arm around her shoulders, one under her knees, and strode to the bed. He lowered to sit, Anna cradled against his chest. Only then did he break off the kiss. He sent her his slow, pirate’s smile, one that, oddly, didn’t reach his eyes.
“That was past due,” he said.
“Past due?”
“The Prince always claims a kiss from his princess upon rescuing her.”
She reached up to cup his cheek—a smooth, freshly shaven cheek. “Oh, Caden. You came,” she half choked.
Misery filled his eyes. He ducked his head, grasping her hand to press a kiss into her palm. “I’m sorry. So sorry it took so long.”
“What do you mean? Your timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Even the magistrate said so.”
“Wrong. That mad woman should have never had the chance to grab you. I should never have let you go, at least not without a fight. I should have told you how I felt. How Ifeel.”
She licked her lips. Her heart beat so hard against her ribs, she wondered he didn’t comment. “How do you feel, Caden?”
He wrapped one large, slightly damp hand around her nape. His eyes blazed with ice-blue fire. “Like you’re the most beautiful, most brave, most delectable creature on this earth. Like I don’t deserve you—”
“Oh, Caden—”
“—and don’t care a fig that I don’t. I don’t care because I love you more than life. More than breath. I told you I never bet it all on anything, and I meant that. I don’t. People call me lucky, but the truth is nothing has even been worth gambling everything on. I’ve never wanted anyone or anything the way I want—no, the way Ineedyou. You make me believe I can be a better man.
“So this is me, begging you to be my wife. To spend your life with me. Not because you may be with child—though I vow, nothing could make me happier—and not because you need rescuing, but because I love you—so bloody much it hurts.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
His expression turned bleak. “I’m too late?”
“Never.”
He frowned in confusion, even as hope lit his eyes.
“I meant, no, you can’t be a better man, because you’re already the best man I know.” Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. “It’s me who doesn’t deserve you, my very own Prince Charming. But I’m so glad you love me because I was giving you one more day to come to your senses before I stormed the castle of Chissington Hall to demand you marry me.”
His own eyes went suspiciously damp, and one corner of his mouth curved upward. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
He crooked a finger under her chin. “Does that mean you love me, Anna?”
She laughed softly, one fat tear coursing down her cheek. “Didn’t I say so?”
He shook his head.
