“Lud, ye called ’im Daisy.”
Nausea built in her stomach. “Gabriel! Thank goodness!”
He opened his arms to her.
She took a step toward him and fainted.
***
“You can come in now, Gabriel. I’m decent,” Daisy called from inside her room, which had been his until she’d stormed back into his life in the most spectacular way this morning. Less than an hour had passed since he’d carried her in, set her on the bed and proceeded to remove her trousers over the complaints of the innkeeper’s wife.
“Sir! Now, see here! We run a respectable establishment. Won’t have such goings on under m’very nose,” the woman had threatened, following him into the room with raised fist, and suddenly silenced by the gruesome sight of Daisy’s thigh. “Lud! She’s been stabbed!”
“I have to stop the bleeding. Help me get her out of these wretched clothes,” he’d ordered, the additional coins thrown her way quickly stifling further protest.
Gabriel had thrown more coins about, to hire one of the serving girls to serve as Daisy’s personal maid, to order a warm bath and scented soaps brought up for Daisy, to provide for a steady stream of food and drink brought to her room, to provide wood for the fire needed to keep the room warm and protect her from the chilling sea breeze.
As she bathed, Gabriel had walked to the High Street to purchase Daisy a decent gown and shawl, shoes, stockings, and assorted delicate undergarments, handing the packages to the innkeeper’s wife to deliver to Daisy. “Here, my wife will need these.”
And now, he stood at her door, waiting for her to try on the new clothes and wondering how he would ever find the strength to part from her.
“Well, are you coming in?” Daisy called out hesitantly. “I’m decent,” she repeated.
He opened the door, took one step inside, and sucked in his breath. Oh, Lord... Lord, Lord. She stood by the window in a stream of sunlight, ruffling fingers through her damp, dark hair to dry it, and all he could think of was how much he’d enjoy running his own fingers through that incredibly long, lush mound, as well as over the two lush mounds presently concealed by the soft, blue shawl wrapped over her shoulders.
Decent? The thoughts whirling in his head were decidedly not that.
“What do you think?” she asked, holding out her hands and slowly twirling to show off her new gown. She tossed him the most beautiful smile, one that reached her vibrant blue eyes.
“What do I think?” he repeated numbly, relieved that she seemed able to put weight on her injured leg without apparent trouble. He’d never beheld a more beautiful female, never imagined anyone could stir his heart this powerfully. “You didn’t finish the plate of cheese and fruit I ordered brought up to you.”
She let out an adorable laugh. “The third plate you ordered sent up. I’m so stuffed, I can’t bear to look at another wedge of cheese or slice of apple. Gabriel, you’ve been far too extravagant in your care of me.”
“I don’t think so. You were bedraggled, quite mangy looking, really, when you first stumbled in here,” he teased.
She laughed again, picked up a hairbrush and, instead of throwing it at him—thankfully—began to brush her hair. His fingers itched to take the hairbrush from her hand and perform the task of putting order to those silky strands, but he decided against it since his hands were shaking and his heart was painfully lodged in his throat.
“I suppose I did look a mess, but cool water and a chunk of lye soap would have set me to rights as capably as a warm, scented bath, fragrant oils, and delicate soaps.”
“Those,” he said with a chuckle, softly closing the door and walking toward her, “were for my pleasure.”
She melted into his arms when he held them out to her. “Oh, Gabriel! I was so afraid I’d be too late to stop you from sailing to your death!”
He hugged her tightly, lifting her so that they were eye to eye, her delectable body nestled against his hard frame. Her feet dangled off the floor since he was much taller than she. But she smelled so sweet, he realized, burying his face against her neck, loving the silky smoothness of her skin. He planted kisses along her neck, the little upturn of her chin, and finally, with desperate longing, upon her lips.
Also sweet. So very, very sweet.
She responded as he knew she would, had hoped she would, by circling her arms around his neck and parting her lips in welcome. “Lord, I can’t believe you’re here. I thought I’d never see you again,” he said, groaning against her mouth.
She pressed her warm lips to his, sighing softly as their mouths locked for another long, lingering embrace.