Captured by Love (Michigan Brides #3)(94)

He let go of her and pushed a wave of water at her.

She sputtered at the cascade of water in her face. “What was that for?”

He made himself grin, trying hard to appear carefree when everything within him protested. “That was for scaring me half to death.”

She wiped her face, clearing the water away. And then before he could duck, she sent a wall of water splashing into his face. “And that was for scaring me half to death.”

It was his turn to sputter. He lunged for her, but with a laugh she darted away from him. He swam after her, but she was slippery and quick, always evading his grasp. Laughing with her, he chased and splashed her until finally he snagged her shift.

When he pulled her against the flow of water toward him, this time she didn’t resist.

“I let you catch me,” she said, her legs treading water near his. She looked up at him with all the adoration she’d always had.

“Oh, no you didn’t. I’m still faster than you.” Even though his limbs were numb from the frigid water, all it took was one look into her doe-like brown eyes to heat his insides thoroughly and completely.

“You just can’t admit defeat, can you?” Her smile was glorious and touched a place deep inside him with such bittersweet pain he wanted to cry out at the unfairness of everything.

Bantering with her and seeing her in all her beauty made him realize once again how much he wanted her. Desperately.

His hold on her arms tightened. His grin slipped away. He could see by the reflection in her eyes that his desire was etched into every line of his face.

Her smile vanished too, and her eyes widened, revealing the love he’d hoped to see there. She tilted her head just slightly, but it was enough of an invitation.

The soft intake of her breath, and the tiny nibble she gave to her lower lip sent fire racing through him.

He was going to kiss her. He was going to lose the battle, and part of him didn’t care. He wanted to be with her too much. But another part of him screamed for him to stop, to flee from the temptation.

He groaned, let go of her, and submerged his body under the water, letting the iciness crash against his face. He forced himself to swim toward the shore. And he didn’t stop until he’d climbed out and moved a safe distance away.

She followed him out of the water slowly, until she stood in her wet shift shivering, dejection dripping from every fiber of her body.

He grabbed his capote where he’d discarded it and held it out to her.

She wrapped it around herself, yet her teeth chattered and her body shook uncontrollably. “I’m sorry for hurting you last fall, Pierre.”

“You were right to reject me.” He set his shoulders, preparing for battle against his selfishness. “During all the running I had to do, I realized I was only thinking about myself and what I wanted. I didn’t take into consideration you or Jean and what would be best for the two of you.”

She reached out a hand to him.

He forced himself not to take it. “I’m sorry for pushing you to be unfaithful to Jean. And I’m sorry for making you feel like your mother. I loathe myself for how I hurt you.”

“I’ve done some thinking over the winter too,” she began.

“Let me finish, Angelique.” He had to get everything out before he lost his courage. She shook her head, but he continued anyway. “You belong here on the island, and I don’t. At least not at this point in my life.”

Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes, and the sight of them squeezed his chest until he could barely breathe. “Please don’t cry, ma cherie.” He wanted to go to her and comfort her, but if he allowed himself to be near her again, he wouldn’t be able to tear himself away this time.

“I love you with all my heart,” she whispered. “I realized that I don’t care where we are so long as we’re together.”

A tiny waft of hope fluttered in his chest.

“I’d planned to tell Jean I wouldn’t marry him. That I couldn’t. I wanted to be honest with him. Finally. But then after I heard you were dead and when I saw Jean this morning, I couldn’t tell him no. I promised him again that I’d marry him.” The words came out strangled. “With his injury he needs me now more than ever.”

The hope vanished, leaving him with an overwhelming sorrow.

“We’re getting married at St. Anne’s at noon.” Her shoulders slumped. “I came here to wash up and prepare for my wedding.”

He couldn’t move or speak. The gentle lapping of the water, and the song of a warbler in the surrounding woodlands echoed in the silence that settled between them. He wanted to yell out his protest, wanted to grab her and take her away with him, far from Jean and the island. But he was strangely empty.

He took a half step back. “You’re doing the right thing.”

She nodded.

“I want you to know,” he said, his voice cracking with the effort it took to restrain himself, “I love you even more for your sacrifice.”

“And I love you more for yours.”

He held her gaze, knowing it was the last time he would look into her eyes. He let himself feast on her love for one final moment before he spun away from her and disappeared back into the forest. His unshed tears blinded him, and he tripped over a long, smooth stick. He would have ignored it, except the perfectness of the wood stopped him.