Evie’s mother had written her a long letter, telling her she’d received Beth’s news of the ended engagement. To Evie’s surprise, her mother had gone on a bit about her relief—she and her father hadn’t wanted to stand in the way of Evie’s happiness, and the Athertons had seemed a decent family, but …
Even they had seen that Hayden was wrong for Evie. He is wrong for you, Jamie had told her, rumbling words that still seared in her heart. Can you nae see that?
In the meantime, the Mackenzies readied themselves for the start of the racing season, where they’d cheer on Uncle Cameron’s horses. As the McKnights would not reach London for another week, Evie’s mother’s letter said, Beth saw no reason why Evie shouldn’t accompany them to Newmarket.
Ian had commandeered an entire train car for the journey—the families of both Ian and Mac, as well as Hart’s offspring, would travel together. Hart and Eleanor would join them at Newmarket, Hart finishing up business in London. Gavina also journeyed with the group, her brother and parents already at Newmarket with the horses.
In the jumble in the train corridor, as the mob divided itself into the first-class compartments, somehow Evie, when she sat down, found herself alone with Jamie.
Jamie slid the door of the compartment closed and pulled down the shade, shutting out Gavina’s glance inside and her big smile, and dropped to the seat opposite Evie.
“Well now,” Jamie said, his gaze holding heat. “It’s a bit of a journey to Cambridgeshire. What shall we do to fill the time?”
Chapter 23
Jamie’s heart moved in slow, thick beats as he met Evie’s stunned gaze across the compartment.
He’d not mistaken the longing glances she’d sent him earlier in the week, while the family had conspired to keep them apart, as Jamie had requested.
He agreed with his father that he needed to continue what he’d started without a break, but he’d also wanted Evie to have a chance to rest. To recover from her shock of Hayden’s duplicity, to arrange her life into new lines.
Evie was free. Free of the dispassionate marriage she’d contemplated, free to either continue her past grief or walk through new avenues.
The heat in Evie’s eyes now told him she felt the stirrings of need, the yearning for her arms around another person, to forget her confusion for a while.
“I am certain one of your cousins will bound in any moment with a sudden need for a chat.” Evie’s nose wrinkled with her smile. “I like your cousins.”
“I usually do too, but they won’t.” Jamie leisurely reached over and turned the lock on the door. “I’ve already taken care of the tickets. No one will disturb us unless you want them to.”
Evie glanced at the door latch, within easy reach of her. She could rise and walk out if she liked. Jamie wouldn’t stop her.
“Will we have our heart-to-heart talk?” she asked him, her voice quieting. “I am not certain what’s in my heart.”
“We may talk if you like.” Jamie rose slowly and sat down beside her. He put himself between her and the outer window, not the door, still offering her escape. “I had other things in mind.”
Pink spread across her cheeks. “Such as?”
Jamie shrugged. “Kissing without interruption? Maybe we’ll like it better—maybe we won’t.”
“You mean, find out whether we are truly attracted to each other?” Evie cocked her head. “Or if we simply found the danger of it exciting? Interesting experiment, Mackenzie.”
“Glad you approve, McKnight.”
“I did not say I approved.” Evie’s smile belied her words. “Did you plan to ravish me, and then ask me if I minded?”
No wonder he was falling in love with this woman. Her salty tongue, her combined innocence and worldliness, the way her eyes shone when she teased him, had Jamie’s mind alight with possibilities.
“Not with my entire family down the corridor who would thrash me if I did.” Jamie leaned back and rested his hands at his sides. “Why don’t you do whatever you like?” He turned his head and met her gaze. “With me.”
Evie lost her smile. “What exactly do you mean?”
Jamie spread his arms. “I am here, for your delectation. You do as you please, or nothing at all.” In truth, if she pulled out a novel and started reading it, he’d die on the spot. But he wanted this first venture to be up to her.
For a long time, Evie quietly studied him. Not in trepidation or distaste, but with flattering interest. Jamie saw her understand that they were truly alone, that this train compartment with the shades pulled down provided them a private world of their own.
Slowly Evie unpinned and set aside her hat then unbuttoned and slid off her coat.
The simple movements, she making herself comfortable in the warm compartment, was one of the most sensuous things Jamie had ever seen. The coat was a barrier, representing the outside world. Evie put it from her so she could be with him, so nothing would stand between them.
Or else she was just overheated. Jamie told his imagination to cease, but he was growing hard, his blood hot with anticipation.
Evie left the coat in the seat and rose. She braced herself on the rack above him as the train swerved, taking them through the streets of London and eastward.
Today she’d donned a gown of light blue that brought out her eyes, with an easy swinging skirt. The collar of her buttoned-up bodice skimmed her throat, covering the place Jamie had given her a love bite. He longed to undo the buttons, peel down the collar, lick the place he’d bitten her, perhaps put another mark there.
Jamie made himself rest his hands on the seat and not touch her. This was her adventure, not his.
He held his breath as Evie swayed with the movement of the train, contemplating him with an intensity that had his entire body throbbing.
He let out that breath in a rush when Evie slid one knee beside his left thigh, then steadied herself with her hands on his chest. She slid her other knee next to his right thigh and lowered herself to his lap.
Jamie caught her around the waist, balancing her as she straddled him, unable to keep from touching her any longer.
She cupped his face in her hands, continuing to study him, thumbs brushing his shaven cheeks. Evie regarded him for a long while, then she leaned down and slowly kissed him.
Her lips held warmth. Jamie met the kiss with his own, unable to simply sit and let her have her way with him. She tasted of tea and cream, sweetened with a hint of honey. Jamie’s hands roved her back, the thin fabric of her gown letting him feel every curve of her.
The kiss went on, taking its time, savoring. Evie brushed her fingertips over his face, as though enjoying the faint buzz of whiskers that were already growing back.
Their kisses at the lock-up and at the house had been truncated, even frantic. Now Evie kissed him thoroughly, deliberately, releasing him only to trail kisses along his jaw to his ear. Jamie groaned softly as her teeth brushed his earlobe.
“Love,” he whispered. “Where did you learn that?”
“From you.” Her breath tickled inside him.
“Oh, aye?” Jamie closed his eyes as her kisses moved across his jaw once more, back to his chin. “What else have ye learned?”