A Reputation For Revenge(42)

“They shouldn’t be.”

“It looks dangerous. Bree would never let me do it.”

“Another good reason.”

Josie stiffened. “I wish you would quit slandering Bree—”

“I don’t care about her,” he interrupted. “I care about you. And what you want. Your sister isn’t here to stop you. I’m not going to stop you. You say you want to do it. The only one stopping you is you.”

She looked up at the dune. It was very tall and the sand looked very hard. She licked her lips. “What if I fall?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “So what if you do?”

“The kids might laugh, or—” she hesitated “—you might.”

“Me?” He stared at her incredulously. “Is that a joke? You’d let fear of my reaction keep you from something you want?” His sensual lips lifted as he shook his head. “That doesn’t sound like the Josie I know.”

She felt a strange flutter in her heart. Kasimir thought she was brave. He thought she was bold.

And she was, when she was with him. She barely recognized herself anymore as the downtrodden housekeeper she’d been in Hawaii. Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve, but for Josie, the New Year—her new life—had already begun.

She’d be able to pay off their debts. She hugged the thought to her heart like a precious gift. They’d be free of the dark cloud of fear that had hung over them for ten years, forcing them to stay under the radar with low-paying, nondescript jobs. Bree would be able to start her business. Josie would never feel like a burden again to anyone.

But it would come at a cost. Josie looked up at Kasimir. He could be a rough man, selfish and unfeeling, and yet beneath it all...he truly was a good man. His generosity would change her life.

But she would never see him again. And that thought was starting to hurt. Because she couldn’t kid herself.

She’d stopped thinking of their marriage as a business arrangement long ago.

Yesterday, Kasimir had taught her how to ride a horse. Very patiently, until she lost her fear of the big animals’ teeth and sharp hooves, until she started to gain confidence. She was still a little sore from their ride that morning, traveling across the dunes to the nearest village, to bring medicine from Marrakech. As she and Kasimir galloped back together across the desert, his eyes had been as blue and bright as the wide Moroccan sky. She lost a new fragment of her heart every time he looked at her with that brilliant, boyish smile.

Just as he was looking at her now.

“Well?” His hand was still outstretched with utter confidence, as if he knew she would not be able to resist.

“Is it soft? Like powder?”

He laughed. “No. It’ll leave bruises.”

“Sounds fun,” she muttered.

“Do you want to try it or not?”

She swallowed, then looked at the boys zooming down the sand dune at incredible speed, on boards lightly strapped to their feet. Heard their roars of laughter and delight. Maybe it wasn’t hard. Maybe it was actually quite easy. All she had to do was make the choice.

Josie’s eyes narrowed. She was done being afraid—of anything. Done living a life smaller than her dreams.

Holding her breath, she put her hand in his own.

He pulled her close. “Good,” he said in a low voice. “Let’s do it. Right now.”

His face was inches from her own, and a tremble went through her that had nothing to do with fear. Every time Kasimir looked at her, every time he spoke to her, she felt her heart expand until she felt as if she was flying.

Let’s do it. Right now.

His grip on her hand tightened. Then he abruptly turned away, disappearing into a nearby tent. And she exhaled.

It had been torture sleeping next to him the last two nights. She’d been so aware of him beside her, it was a miracle she’d gotten any rest at all. Especially the first night, when they’d been talking so late into the darkness, and he’d told her he meant to pay for her land. She’d been so ecstatic that she’d thrown her arms around him. He’d held her so tightly, his eyes dark on hers, and for one moment, she’d thought, really thought, he might break his promise. And here was the really shocking thing...#p#分页标题#e#

She’d wanted him to.

Her lips had tingled as she’d waited breathlessly for him to lower his mouth savagely to hers and pull her hard against his body. She’d ached to stroke her hands down his hard, tanned chest, laced with dark hair. She’d yearned to feel his pure heat and fire. Her body still shook with the memory of how she’d wanted it. And looking at him, she’d known he felt the same.