Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(74)

“You’re right.”

“We don’t have anything to be ashamed of.” At least mostly. He couldn’t help feeling slightly guilty for the moment of intimacy he’d shared with her in front of Rosemarie. He’d reacted out of anger and hurt. But still, he shouldn’t have done it.

She lifted her fingers to his face and poised them above his eye. “Your face is a mess.”

“That’s very kind of you to say.” He tried to grin, but winced at the pain in his lip instead. “I defended your honor and got myself battered in the process.”

She smiled. “You were really brave.”

“It was a first. I’ve never fought anyone like that before.”

“Well, you handled it as well as any shanty-boy fight I’ve ever seen.” She skimmed her fingers over the puffy skin next to his eye.

His breath hitched in his chest.

She was standing less than six inches away and was altogether too beautiful. When she lifted her fingers to his swollen lip, his entire body ignited with the touch.

The softness of her graze reminded him of the gentle sweetness of her lips.

He could probably sneak another kiss. They were alone. No one would know. He was leaving. What harm could come from kissing her again?

The dimness of the room, the crackle of the fire in the hearth, the faint scent of lavender soap on her skin—his senses reeled with the enticement of being intimate with her.

Flee from temptation. His mother’s teaching sounded in his head, almost as if she were in the room instructing him, as she had so many times when he’d been a young boy. She’d trained him to trust God’s guidelines above his own desires. Do not lust in your heart after her beauty. Instead may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

If he had any hope of resisting the temptation to drink of her beauty, he had to stop putting himself in situations where they were alone.

God help me. He took a step away from her. He cared about her too much to use her for his own momentary pleasure. And he’d long ago vowed he’d keep the pleasures of the marriage bed within the marriage bedroom.

Her eyes widened, and the desire within them chased after him.

Stifling a groan, he turned away from her and crossed the room. He positioned himself behind the love seat, putting a barrier between them.

“I can’t seem to control myself when I’m alone with you.” His voice was hoarse.

Her lips curved into a shy smile. “I think you’re doing a mighty fine job.”

“And it’s past time for me to be on my way.”

The longing deep within his soul threatened to drag him back around the love seat toward her. But he grabbed on to the carved oak scallop to anchor himself. He wouldn’t take advantage of any woman, especially not a special woman like Lily. She deserved so much more than a quick tryst in a deserted room. She deserved a man who would do the right thing and marry her.

Marry her?

What if he were to marry her? Today. At that very moment. His mouth went dry at the thought of making her his wife and taking her to bed that very night.

Tierney’s words echoed through him. “Guess you’re gonna marry that woman.”

What was stopping him? He cared about her more than he’d ever cared about any other woman. He’d never been in love before, but he suspected that what he felt for Lily came pretty close.

“Do you really have to go?” she asked, almost as if she’d read his mind.

“So, does this mean you can’t live without me?” he teased softly, holding his breath in anticipation of her answer.

A flush stole over her cheeks, and she twisted one of the ringlets by her ear. “I admit, it’s hard to imagine my life without you a part of it.”

Her confession sent a shiver of delight through him. “Since we’re being honest, then I admit I don’t want to live without you either.”

He could send the stable hand for the preacher. They could have a wedding in the parlor. And then tomorrow he could head back to Harrison.

“What if you were to stay here?” Her voice was low.

His heart rammed into his ribs. If he married her and stayed an extra day, it wouldn’t make much difference when he got back to Harrison, would it?

Did he dare to do something so impulsive? So uncharacteristic?

“I might be able to squeeze in an extra day,” he said.

“Just a day?”

Maybe he could take her back to Harrison with him.

As soon as the thought entered his mind, he tossed it out. She’d be in too much danger there—at least until he could pacify Carr. And he doubted she’d want to leave Daisy so soon after being reunited. No, she’d be better off staying with Mam. And maybe after the spring river drive, he could ride back home to visit her.

She slid around one of the chairs and approached the front of the love seat. She narrowed her eyes like a cat about to pounce on a mouse.

Suddenly he couldn’t see anything but the rounded curves that the elegant gown outlined. If he was going to marry her today, surely he could let himself feast upon the sight of her just a little.

“I don’t want you to go back to Harrison,” she said. “Ever.”

“You know I have to go back.” His focus dipped to her waist, and he pictured his hands spanning the circumference.

“Just to rescue Frankie,” she said. “Then you could bring her here and never go back.”