She couldn’t help but think of him on his knees, perched between her thighs, watching her as she twisted in pleasure against him. She could feel her face becoming red with the thought.
Callum arched a brow. “From that blush, I feel like you might be lying to me, Flora.”
She tossed her napkin toward him with a huff of breath. “It is so entirely ungentlemanly of you to point that out.”
He laughed again. “Very much so, my deepest apologies.” His smile faded as he reached across the table and took her hand for the briefest of squeezes. “My dear Flora, please know that we all only want to see you happy.”
“I’d also like to be happy,” Flora admitted. “I just…don’t know if I remember how.”
Callum’s brow wrinkled. “I know Roarke a little. He’s always seemed upstanding. Would it make you more comfortable if I looked into him a bit more? Gave you some information beyond what I recall from a boyhood acquaintance and whatever he presents to the world now?”
Her breath stopped at that idea. Perhaps that would help her find her bearings, if she knew more about Roarke. Even if she didn’t feel good about going behind his back for any information. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Then I will,” Callum promised. “And please know you can always reach out to me about this man or any man who darkens your door. You are like Valaria’s sister, which means in a few months that you will be my sister. And I will do anything I can to be certain you are safe and happy.”
Flora stared at him, this handsome man who she already knew was a magnificent steward to her friend’s heart. This kind gesture warmed her own. Made her feel…loved. Not in a passionate way, but like a family. She had been missing that for so long.
“You are too kind,” she whispered, and then looked back again, toward where Roarke and Valaria had last been seen. “Now can we go after them before she scares him off?”
Callum grinned as he got up and offered an arm. “Of course,” he said.
She took his offering and allowed him to guide her down the stone stairs and across the garden to where she could now see Roarke and Valaria standing at her empty fountain, admiring the statue of Artemis that decorated it.
“You know,” Callum said just before they reached the pair. “If he could be scared off, he truly doesn’t deserve you.”
She smiled up at him before she let him go. “You really are the best of men. And you and Valaria deserve all your happiness to come.”
He released her and crossed to Valaria, taking her arm gently. “We could not wait for your return, my love.”
Valaria sent Flora a knowing look, but if she had been haranguing Roarke, he didn’t look any worse for wear for it. He seemed entirely unbothered, even as he tracked Flora when she stepped closer.
“It has been a wonderful afternoon,” he said. “And I am so glad we bumped into you, Callum, when I was departing Flora’s estate. But I truly must continue my day, as much as I hate to leave the company.”
“I’ll walk you back to home,” Flora said. “And we can say our goodbyes.”
Valaria drew a breath like she was going to say something, but Callum tucked an arm around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’m sure we’ll see you later, Flora. And always good to see you, Desmond.”
Roarke inclined his head and the group of them headed around the path through the garden to the gate that led to the front drive. Valaria and Callum waved them off and after a few steps Flora was alone with Roarke again.
“I hope she wasn’t too…too hard on you.”
He smiled down at her. “She’s protective. That’s a lovely quality in a friend.”
“Yes, I’m lucky to have her and Bernadette.” They had reached her small stable by then and she waved at the stablehand. He nodded and went for Roarke’s horse.
She stared up at Roarke and oh, how she wanted to kiss him. But she’d used up all her bravado earlier in the day with her seduction that had ended with such pleasure.
“Will I…will I see you again?” she asked, and hoped she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt.
There was a moment when she saw what looked like panic cross his expression and her heart leapt with fear. Perhaps all he wanted was what they’d already done. Perhaps all of it was out of pity, not true desire. Oh, how that would break her heart.
“I…” he began, and then he smiled, his expression softening, his gaze becoming more focused on her. “What about tomorrow? I could meet you in the park and we could walk together.”
The relief and excitement that lifted through her chest and into her entire body was so strong that she couldn’t deny how much this man’s company was beginning to mean to her. She tempered it, trying to maintain some calm as she said, “I would enjoy that. How about around one? Then we could have tea after if you have time.”
“I’ll see you at one.”
The horse was ready now and Roarke took the reins from her servant with a smile. Once the man had gone, Roarke took her hand and lifted it to his lips. She wasn’t wearing gloves, so the warmth of his lips eased through her skin and made her weak in the knees. He met her gaze as he kissed her skin, the promise in his eyes bold and passionate.
“I very much look forward to that, Flora.”
Then he swung up on his mount and rode away, leaving her to stare after him, with a hundred memories to relive until they met again.
CHAPTER 12
Roarke had grown up in a fine townhouse, not unlike Flora’s, with a handful of servants and access to almost anything he might have wanted. Over the years, as his father’s fortune had slipped, the family had slumped lower into smaller homes, fewer servants, possessions and clothing that were more worn and out of fashion.
And once Roarke had mishandled what little fortune he’d inherited after his father’s death? Well, that had landed him in his current accommodations. A hovel was a kind description. It was a single tiny room above a smoky pub on a street he hadn’t even known existed as a young man. And while it was safe and nearly warm and almost always dry except when rain blew against the windows from a certain direction, it was not fine. It was not a place he would bring friends or, God forbid, a lover.
He tried to picture Flora here, her sunshine lighting all the darkest corners. But all he could see was the horror on her face if she knew where he stayed. Worse, what he was.
A liar.
He’d meant to tell her the truth yesterday. At least, he’d believed he had. But the moment she started talking about seduction and desire, the moment she’d kissed him, he’d just let all the bad things float away. He’d let himself have the tiniest taste of happiness for the first time in a very long time.
And now he hated himself even more for it.
“I will do it today,” he told the grainy reflection of himself in the cracked mirror where he was looking to get himself into acceptable condition to meet Flora for their walk. “I’ll tell her, as gently as possible.” He bent his head. God, what could he say?
“Flora,” he said to the mirror image. “I lied to you. I was sent here by your stepchildren.”
God, he could almost imagine her expression crumpling with pain and hurt and hate. The hate was what he dreaded most. He’d have earned it with his ungentlemanly behavior. No amount of practiced words would change the meaning of what he’d have to say to her.