Page 39 of Lady Willa's Divinely Wicked Vicar
She halted. She had hoped…oh, yes, honestly!She hadplannedshe might see him here. God might be with her this time? Possibly?
“Good afternoon.”Sir? Reverend? Charlie, my darling.“How are you?”
He had his arm crooked up across a tree limb as if he’d just climbed down. His white shirt, smudged with dirt and greenery, was open at the neck. The gap gave evidence to his heavy breathing and the fine black hair that covered the expanse of his chest and his ribs. Ribs she’d touched, traced. Yearned to…
The tiger kitten in his arm mewled.
He set her down.
Wills tore her gaze from him to watch the creature kick up her heels and scamper away. The little one trotted off without a thank you, ungrateful animal. But the man had won praise and medals for his habit of saving creatures.
He rose to his full height. She was taller than most women, but he was majestic, his towering height a comfort and defense. The full force of his green eyes bore down upon her as he ran both hands through the shocks of his coal black hair. “I am well, my lady. And I’m pleased to see you are, too.”
She tried mightily to smile, but her heart was not in falsehoods. “I’ve no sniffles.”
“I doubted the reports of your illness.”
She tipped her head toward the village. “I’m off to the events.”
“As you should be.”
She noted dark smudges around his eyes. Did he not sleep well? “How are you?”
He looked away and came back with a rueful twist to those full tempting lips. “You already asked me that and I told you.”
“Well! Then.” She feigned indifference to his small rebuke. “I had to come.”
“Of course you did.”
“For the wedding.”
“Of your friend,” he added.
But did he perceive the truth? Yes! Itwasthe truth that she had come to see him. That she could not help her desire to see him, kiss him, want him. Oh! She stomped her foot. “You are not helping me here.”
“Should I?” A sharp note of reproof laced his voice.
“You’re a minister.” She rebelled.It’s my father who rejected you not me.“A man of God.”
He burst out in laughter. “And not a mindreader.”
“No, but—Ohhhh, good day to you!” She filled herself up with indignation. She’d engage him again when she had her wits about her. Or perhaps she’d ignore him. And so she strode around him.
But he caught her by the elbow. And stepped so close to her, she could smell his bergamot cologne and his anger…and adore the flash of desire she found in the depths of his large eyes. “I’m happy you’ve come, Wills.”
Her lips parted as she examined his ruggedly handsome face. “Not to see you.”
He winced and turned his head. “Not wise, that.”
Her brain was a jumble with yearning and desperation. What to say to a man who knew her so well he’d call her bluff on stalling a real discussion with perversions?
“We shouldn’t stand out here,” he said, as his bass voice burrowed into her resolve to leave.
“No.” Her agreement was right. Proper. “Let’s not.”
Verdant fury blazed in his eyes as he grabbed her hand. “Come inside.”
Oh yes.
