“You’re welcome.” He brushed her cheek with his hand again. “It’s the part I’ve always been good at. I’m glad I gave you the experience you hoped for.”
Something in his words held an unexpected sadness and she looked at him then, noting the dark blue of his now-crinkled eyes. “The part you’ve always—” But she stopped. Cocking her head, she heard the soft meow of what sounded like a kitten. “Did you hear that?”
He looked to the side, training his ear toward the sound as another meow called from the rocks. “Is that a cat?”
“Drat,” she muttered, stepping closer to the rock face. “It must be in one of those clusters of rocks.” And she pointed to a group that was about a third of the way down the cliff. The rock cluster had a narrow ledge to access it. She’d safely traversed the path a number of times and knew all the footings, but it had been a long time since she’d attempted the task. It wasn’t the safest. “The wind is carrying the sound up to us.”
He shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ll never get the cats there.”
But she started back down toward the ledge, jumping over rocks as she nimbly traversed the path. “I’ve been to that cluster more times than I care to admit. You go. Get on your boat, my lord. I’ll be fine.”
“First of all, my name is Luke.” He crossed his arms as she stopped to look up at him again.
“Luke?” She held her skirts in her hands, lifted them so that she might see her feet as she moved.
“Lucas,” he gritted out, starting to follow her as she continued down the path. “But my older brother came up with the nickname, Luke, and I always preferred it.”
Adrianna stopped, pivoting toward him. “Older brother? But you hold the title?”
His jaw hardened. “For the past two years.”
Her skirts dropped into place and suddenly she wasn’t moving down the path any longer but toward him. Without a word, she reached out her hand and he slipped her fingers into his. His long fingers were large and strong, but he clearly needed comfort now. “I’m so sorry, Luke. How terrible to have lost your brother.”
Chapter Seven
Luke stared at Adrianna’s beautiful face, from her large blue eyes, to her perfect little nose, to those delightfully pouty lips, all her features etched in sympathy. Other than the solicitor, not one person had uttered those words to him.
In defense of his friends, he hadn’t spoken of it to anyone. The only other person he’d discussed Marcus’s death with was his former lover and his brother’s wife, Miranda. Worst conversation of his life. “Thank you,” he bit out, turning away from her as he let go of her hand and moved around her to reach the outcropping of rocks. The meowing grew louder and he was more certain that was where the cats were.
“How did it happen?” she asked, falling in step behind him. “Watch your step there, those rocks are loose.”
“Disease of the lung,” he answered, not looking at Adrianna. She’d surely see the pain still tightening his features.
“Obviously your father is gone. Mother?” she asked, easily keeping up with him on the narrow ledge that led to the outcropping. The woman was part mountain goat.
“Also deceased,” he answered tightly. “The only family I have is one sister-in-law who I—” He didn’t finish. Was he actually considering telling her about Miranda?
“Stop.” She grabbed his arm. “This section crumbles.” He did as she commanded. “Honestly, if you’re truly set on going with me, you should allow me to lead the way.”
He turned to look back at her. “Seriously?” Then he scrubbed his hand through his hair. “I consider myself a rather masculine man and yet you’ve had to rescue me on a balcony and now you want to lead the way on a dangerous cliff edge?”
Adrianna gave him a wide smile. “I’m not your average sort of girl.”
Now that was an understatement. “You can’t get by me, anyhow. The ledge isn’t wide enough.”
“Lean against the rock and hold onto me, would you?”
He did as she commanded and sure enough, her lithe body slid across his, causing all sorts of his muscles to clench. “That was easier than I thought.”
“Stay here. I’ll pass the cats to you.” She winked then, hopping over a loose section and made her way to the outcropping. He followed, mimicking her steps until they’d reached the cluster of rocks from where the meows originated. “Mittens,” she cooed, leaning down into the rocks. “What are you doing here?” The sound of her voice made his insides twist and ache. He could almost picture his head in her lap as she stroked his hair, making those same sweet noises for him.
A meow was her only answer and Luke watched as she scooped two kittens into her arms. “Here,” she said, crossing back to him and dropping the little bundles of fur into his hands. Automatically, he curled them into his body. “The larger grey one is Jinx. And the little black and white girl is Socks.”
The soft little fur balls meowed, looking up at him with large, frightened eyes. One, the black and white, started pawing at his shirt and before he knew it, was climbing his chest. He plucked the thing back into his hand and it gave a pathetic cry. Automatically, he lifted the tiny ball of warm fur and damn it if the thing didn’t lick his face and then burrow into his cheek. “I haven’t held a kitten in years.”
Adrianna leaned up from the rock face again, holding a third kitten and a larger cat in her arms. “Mittens. What are you doing down here?” Then her eyes narrowed. “Is that a bowl in the outcropping with you?” She tsked. “Naughty Juliet. Don’t worry, Mittens. I’ll make her pay for what she’s done.” Then she kissed the cat. “Weren’t you a good mama, staying with your babies?”
His chest tightened. She’d make an excellent mother, he’d guess. He thought of his fantasy just moments before when he’d pictured her nurturing him. She’d be a wonderful wife too. He snuggled the two cats he held closer. “Let’s get off this ledge, shall we?”
She nodded, her mouth turning down. “I’m sorry you missed your boat.”
He let out a sigh. He had no appetite for Balstead’s den of sin. “I don’t think I am. The longer I am in Seabridge Gate, the more I think I might have been on the wrong path. The question I still don’t understand is which path I should actually be on.”
He’d been going through the motions of life for some time. For the first time in a long time, he felt awake and alive. He’d like to stay in Seabridge Gate and see if this place held the answers.
“Well for right this moment, there is only one. The one off this cliff.” She gave him a small smile. “Do you want me to go first?”
He shook his head. “I don’t dare risk you going around me with your hands full. I’ll go slow. You direct me.” The warm little bodies of the kittens snuggled into his chest as Adrianna stood close to his back. He’d like to wrap them all up in a warm hug. When was the last time he’d done anything in tandem like this?
“All right,” she answered. “Now, back to our discussion. You said that you don’t know your path. What path have you been on?”