His bold declaration and even bolder gesture, was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her.
“Julia,” he whispered against her hair. “Promise me we’ll never be apart again.”
She gazed up at him and smiled. “Well, we’ll need to be apart during our betrothal.”
He frowned, his forehead lined with worry, as it was wont to do. “How long does that last? A day?”
She laughed and shook her head. “You wish. We’ll need at least a fortnight for preparations.”
“Preparations for what? I want to marry you now.”
Unable to resist she drew her fingers across his crinkled brow, wishing to ease his burden. “Relax. I’m not going anywhere.”
“That’s because I shall never let you go.” Tilting his head, he stared deep into her eyes. “I love you, Julia. I think I fell in love with you that first night in the carriage.”
Her cheeks heated. The man would make her blush until she was ninety. “I love you too, Garrett. More than you shall ever know.”
“No, I believe I have a good sense as to how strongly you feel.” He closed his eyes for the briefest moment, and when they cracked open, the emotion was there, shining in his gaze. All the raw, intense, overwhelming love for her. “I love you so much it hurts.”
She tightened her arms around his waist, leaning into his strength, his warmth. “Take me home, Garrett. Take me back to my place.”
“Only for tonight. Tomorrow I shall take you to my mansion.” He frowned again. “Why did you never want to go there?”
She could never admit that she hadn’t wanted to see what she couldn’t have. If she’d gone to his home during their affair, she’d only have dreamt of living there as his countess.
Now all her dreams were coming true.
When she didn’t answer, he continued, “I hope you don’t think I’m going to hire that nasty butler of yours. He’s deplorable.”
“But he’s been so loyal,” she said softly, wanting to laugh but withholding it. She found it cute how the two men constantly squabbled.
“He’s a mean old coot who never listens to a word you say. Or I say, for that matter.”
Her laughter bubbled forth, making him grin. “I cannot fire him, and neither can you, Garrett, and you know it.”
He lifted his head and scanned the room. Everyone milled around them, waiting to offer their congratulations. “We should leave the dance floor.”
“Must we?” She squeezed him close. “I wanted to savor the moment.”
“I believe they want to resume the dancing, love.” He brushed his mouth across hers, hot and damp, with the slightest dab of tongue. Her insides turned to molten liquid at the illicit touch. “Let’s give them what they want.”
“But didn’t we already do that?”
Confusion crossed Garrett’s face. “What do you mean?”
“We gave them a great scandal, a grand love scene at the end of what was otherwise a rather boring season. Isn’t that what everyone wants?”
“I don’t know.” His eyes filled with concern. “Is it what you wanted?”
She smiled and stood on tiptoe to settle her mouth upon his. “All I ever wanted was you.”