“Grayson.”
“I thought the note I left you was quite sufficient to explain how things are going to be.”
When he grinned even wider, his eyes twinkling with humor, she closed her eyes and sighed. “The note was a mess, wasn’t it?”
When she looked back at him, he had moved closer. The familiar scent of bergamot combined with the heat emanating from his body overwhelmed her. She attempted to back up, but the pile of books was behind her, and if she continued, she would fall on her bottom.
He grabbed her by her arms, most likely seeing the danger she was in of landing in a heap. “Perhaps there was a misspelling here and there, but I got the general idea. However, I fail to see why you believe our marriage was a mistake.” He actually looked confused which raised her ire.
As usual, when she was angry, she didn’t stop to think. “It is hard to be in a marriage when one’s husband is still in love with his deceased wife.” She slapped her hand over her mouth, wishing with all her might that she could bring the words back.
Grayson released her arms and shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “What?”
Addie managed to slip by him, feeling much more in control with him not quite so close. “Mrs. Hartley visited one day.”
“Ah.” He nodded.
“She told me that your heart had been broken when your wife died, and you were adamant that you would never marry again. You loved Margaret with your whole heart, and no one could ever take her place.”
Grayson wavered between wanting to pull Addie into his arms and kiss her senseless, or seeking out his nasty, mean sister-in-law and threaten her with cutting off her funds.
He had foolishly felt guilty when Peter had died and left his wife with nothing but bills. Grayson paid off her debts and set up a monthly allowance for her and her son. His solicitor had suggested cutting her off when she first filed the lawsuit against Michael, but he could not allow the woman and her son to starve.
Considering the pain she’d caused his wife, he could now, however.
“Addie I won’t say you misunderstood because I am quite certain Beatrice wanted you to think precisely what you did. However, the love I felt for my wife when she died had long since faded into nothingness.”
“Why?”
Grayson ran his fingers through his hair. “Margaret was not a nice person. I didn’t see her true character until the year of our marriage. She was self-centered, vain, a very poor mother, and was having an affair with my brother.”
He moved close to her again and took her hands in his. “When I told Beatrice that I would never marry again, it was because I didn’t trust myself not to fall in love with someone who would then break my heart.”
Addie tilted her head and frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Understand this. I love you, Addie. Not with the lust-filled fancy of youth, but with a mature, all-encompassing love that will last a lifetime. One that is deeper, more intense than anything I have ever known.” He kissed her knuckles. “I want you by my side for the rest of my life. I want to have children, lots of children that we can spoil and brag about to our friends. And I can only hope that if you agree to continue our marriage that one day you might feel the same about me.”
His stomach dropped when she shook her head. Then she looked up at him with tears brimming in her eyes. “I already love you that way, Grayson. I was terrified when Mrs. Hartley came to call and said those words. All my dreams of a happy married life vanished.”
Not able to stand it any longer, Grayson pulled her into his arms. “No, my love. We shall have the best of marriages. Our friends will envy us and avoid being in our company because we will be so besotted with each other.”
Addie started laughing, which in turn had him laughing as well. “We will have to live an isolated life. No friends.”
“With all those children?” she asked.
“Yes. Many children. Ah, Addie. I love you so much.” He finally kissed her the way he wanted to kiss her. Just as he was settling in for a long session of kissing and possibly a bit more if he locked the door, Addie placed her hands between them and shoved him away.
“What?” He reached for her, to pull her back.
Addie stepped back and crossed her arms under her lovely breasts, making it difficult to concentrate on what she was saying.
“What about my store?”
“Your store?” He loved how her lips had already plumped up from his kiss. He quickly glanced at the door and figured it would only take a few seconds to skirt around her and lock it.
“Yes. You intend to sell my store.”
Anxious to get to the next step, Grayson waved her off. “You may keep the store. Run it. Sell it. Burn it down. I don’t care. It’s yours to do with as you please.” He reached out to pull her back to him.