The Problem Child (Emerson Pass Historicals 4)

“Yes, just now.”

“What did they say?”

“That you could beat any man, most likely, and why shouldn’t you? They’re going to help us in any way they can.”

She blinked as if a gnat had flown near her eyes. “What if I’m wrong and I can’t beat them? Then what?”

“At least you would have tried. You don’t want to be an old lady thinking back with regret that you passed up this chance.”

“I never thought it would be you.” Cymbeline’s voice reached out to me in the darkness, as soft as a goose feather against the tender skin of my cheek. “I never thought it would be you who would offer to help me. All this time I imagined you thought of me as something to conquer.”

“Conquer? Why would I want to conquer you?”

“I didn’t understand anything for too long.” She rested her elbows on the top of the fence. “You’re the one who wants to see me shine.”

“As brightly as the stars. Or the sun. Maybe the sun. It’s brighter.”

I reached for her hand. Surprisingly, she let me take it. Her skin felt soft in my rough, large hand. I ran a thumb over the pads of her palms. “Is it impossible for you to think of me as someone to go through life with?”

She moved closer. I twitched as she placed the cool fingers of her other hand against my cheek. “If it’s to be anyone who will tame me, it will be you.”

“I don’t want to tame you.” I brought my hand to my lips, unsure if she’d really touched me or if I’d imagined it. “I’ll bask in your triumph, Cym. If you let me.”

She inched closer. “Viktor, thank you.”

“For what?” I could barely breathe.

“For tonight. For being my champion.” Then, to my utter amazement, she drew up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the mouth.

I didn’t dare put my arms around her, fearing she would feel trapped and run away from me. But I did lean in and take another kiss from her sweet mouth.

“Do you remember when I kissed you that night?” Cym asked.

“Yes, I remember.” I’d played that moment over and over in my mind ever since.

“I felt so foolish afterward and embarrassed. That’s been part of why I’ve shunned you. You’ve made me feel like a girl.”

I laughed. “Is that bad?”

“I used to think so.”

“And now?”

“And now I find that I quite like kissing you.” Cym drew away from me, taking the warmth with her, and turned back to look over the fence into the pasture. A sudden breeze brought the scent of dry grasses. “What about Emma?”

For a second, I wasn’t sure what she meant. So wrapped up in Cym, I’d forgotten she believed us to be an item.

“Would you still care for me if there was no Emma?” I voiced the fear that threatened my joyfulness in this glorious moment.

“I believe so,” she said. “But I can’t know for sure. I know only what I feel now.”

“There’s no Emma. There’s only you. Let me take you out to dinner tomorrow at the club. If nothing else, we can talk about how we’re going to prepare you for this race.”

“I will, yes.”

“I’ll pick you up at six,” I said.

“Fine.” She lifted her face toward the moon that hung behind my head. “You may kiss me again.”

I did as she asked, lingering against her soft lips for a second longer this time. When I lifted my face from hers, she smiled up at me. “Is kissing always so delicious?”

“I don’t know. I’ve not kissed anyone else.”

“That can’t be true,” Cym said. “You’re too good at it.”

“I promise.”

“Maybe we should keep it that way.”

Before I could answer, she pranced away and ran fast across the yard and disappeared into the house. I touched my fingers to my lips, as dazzled by her kiss as if she truly were the sun itself.

Or the moon. I turned to look at the giant silver ball in the sky. Had he sent magical dust down to me tonight? Was it the moon who had brought Cymbeline to me at last?