Page 99 of Hearts of Briarwall

She lifted her hand and placed it over his pounding heart. His words grew unsteady.

“I especially don’t abhor it when you tell your brother you’d sooner marry a tree than a knight.”

She smiled, biting her lip, which drew his gaze to her mouth.

He reached, finally, and touched a curl of her hair. “There is another thing I don’t abhor,” he said quietly, the thick, silky threads sliding between his fingers.

Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “What is that?”

He cradled her face, his thumb smoothing over her lower lip. “Anytime I get to do this ...”

She met his lips, closing her eyes and gripping his shirt. Her soft mouth explored his, taking his breath away with her evident willingness to be near him again, to want him again.

She pulled back abruptly, her fingers covering her mouth, and his heart dropped. She spun away but pressed her back against him. He felt her sigh. “Oh, good,” she said.

His fear dissolved. He turned her back around. “They left sometime during my speech.”

“That’s too bad. It was a pretty speech.”

“Would you like me to call them back? I believe they’re just around the corner.”

A giggle and a hush confirmed his suspicions.

She shook her head, pressing herself against him, gripping his shoulders. “Don’t you dare. I have some business to discuss with you.”

“Now?” he asked.

“Yes, now. I need to know.” Her brown eyes held his. “Will you, Spencer Hayes, accept my investment in your motor supply shops and make me part of the future of the motorcar industry?”

He studied her, bewildered and confident at the same time. “I would be honored, Lydia Wooding.”

A squeal from around the corner caused them both to grin.

“You may show me your appreciation now,” she said.

In answer, he caught up her mouth with his, expressing as much appreciation as he dared.

“You said this couldn’t happen,” she said between kisses.

“I was wrong.”

“I knew you were.”

He rested his head on her forehead and laughed.

She grinned. “I knew it when you didn’t balk at my trousers. Not once.”

He pursed his lips. “I think I was done for when you asked me if I had a favorite clock.”

She laughed, and the sound of it filled him.

He set her back a bit, taking her hands. “I told your brother I’ll be courting you.”

“Youtoldhim?”

“Yes. It seemed the best way to go about it. I was quite direct.”

“Very wise.”

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