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Earl of Baxter (Lords of Scandal 8)

Page 36

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Then, she fell asleep.

Mason woke to the early morning light, which still burned his eyes. It told him several things.

First, he was still alive.

A small smile spread across his lips. He’d thwarted death once again.

His father would be so disappointed. But he also shifted and felt the warm solid form of his wife pressed next to him.

His wife.

At his movement, her eyes snapped open. “Mason?”

“Yes,” he croaked. Everything hurt.

She raised her hand to his forehead, her fingers pressing against his skin. They felt warm and achingly soft.

“Thank God, you’re nice and cool.” Her breath blew across his cheek, fanning his skin with warm air.

“Truth be told, I’m nice and warm with you next to me.”

She frowned, her brows drawing together. “How long have you been fever-free?”

“I don’t know. I just woke feeling less cold and achier.”

Her frown deepened. “We need to discuss some things.”

“What things?” But she was already rising from the bed and he grimaced as her heat left him. She crossed the room and pulled the bell cord.

“Things like how you were prepared to give up,” she said as she gave a good hard tug. “How you were preparing to die.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t actively want to die. But I’ve been close before and that changes a person. You have to be prepared for the possibility.”

“You lied to me about how well you were feeling.” Her arms crossed over her chest.

He winced. “Sorry about that, love. There were just a few things I wanted to accomplish just in case…”

“But those things endangered your life.” She crossed over to him again, even as her voice grew louder. “Did it ever occur to you that losing you would be devastating? I’m in love with you…”

He shuddered as he looked up at her hurt expression. Damn. He should have thought of that. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, sweetheart. I just assumed…”

“What did you assume?” she asked, her voice dropping low again.

He closed his eyes. “That I was already on borrowed time. That this was the end.”

“You know how you told me my father was wrong?” Her weight sank into the mattress next to him and she reached for his hand, slipping her fingers against his palm.

“Yes,” he answered, bringing the back of her hand to his lips.

“That he was selfish, and I didn’t ruin his life, he ruined his own with his bad decisions.”

“That’s right.”

She drew in a deep breath, then leaned down and rubbed her cheek against his. She whispered close to his ears. “You were never meant to die. Your father pushed you to take risks the first time and nearly succeeded in ruining your life. But that’s because he was only thinking of his own mistakes. They’ve nothing to do with you. You deserve a full, happy life.”

He swallowed down a lump. She’d hit that note deep within him that he rarely acknowledged. “I took my mother’s life with my own. I’ve done nothing for this world.”

“Not true,” she breathed, her chest pressing to his. “Together, we will make a difference. We’re going to open orphanages alongside Penny and Logan. Start a family of our own. Children who will continue to do good in this world. You’ll do far more than he ever did.” Then she sat up. “We both will.”



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