Taken By Storm(71)
“Not a problem, watchful eyes can be diverted or misled,” Burke said with assurance. “I’d like to see to this as soon as possible.”
“You should wait for Malcolm and Angus to return,” Storm advised. “This way, if your meeting with Lady Alaina goes well, you’ll have all you need to approach her father.”
Burke nodded, knowing she was right, but anxious to get started. “When are they due to return?”
“Any day now,” Storm said and looked to William and Philip. “Get some rest, Burke, and I will formulate a plan and discuss it with you later.”
The two men looked grateful to be dismissed and walked with weary strides to their respective homes.
Burke moved to sit beside Storm. “What do you think?”
“It seems too easy, and that worries me.”
He wrapped his arm around hers and locked her fingers with his. “The earl probably feels safe with my brother in custody.”
“Or could it be a trap?”
“For whom?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I only know that something doesn’t seem right and I believe you should be extremely careful when meeting with Lady Alaina.”
“Care about me, do you?” he asked with a grin, attempting to tease, yet hoping her answer did anything but.
She squeezed his hand. “You know I care for you.”
Her response disappointed him. What was he expecting? Did he think she would proclaim her love for him? Did he assume because love had struck him, it had also struck her?
“I want you safe,” she insisted. “I don’t want to have to rescue you, though I would if necessary. You can count on it.”
He stared at her for a moment. Was she trying to tell him the way she truly felt the only way she knew how? That she would risk her life for him as she had for her husband? Did he dare ask? Did he want to know?
“You’ll need to do this alone,” Storm informed him. “We risk detection if too many men are present. We’ll wait on the outskirts of Balford land. If you don’t return within an agreed-upon time, then I will send one man in after you.”
“Sounds reasonable,” he said.
“Reasonable or not, anything can happen, and we need to be prepared for any and all upsets.”
“Are you planning on going?” he asked, and wasn’t surprised when she shot him a startled look.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
He shrugged, as if it didn’t seem important, when it was of the utmost importance to him. “Could be dangerous.”
“Every mission is dangerous.”
“True enough, but this one even more so since the Earl of Balford would certainly claim a feather in his cap if he caught the infamous outlaw Storm.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
He brought their clenched hands to his mouth and kissed her hand. “I want to take care of you.”
Her eyes widened, their blue color softening momentarily before sparkling to a brilliant blue. He loved the shifting color. It made him feel as if he were either in the middle of a raging tempest or staring at a tranquil blue sky.
She stumbled over her words. “There is—is no need—no need at all for that.”
He kissed her hand again. “Do you really think I could repeatedly make love with you these last few days and not—”
She yanked her hand free and moved away from him. “We’ve enjoyed some time together, that’s all. It doesn’t make you responsible for me.”
He arched a brow. “Afraid I might have fallen in love with you?”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Why? You’re a beautiful, interesting, courageous woman and I love spending time with you. I love making love with you, love going on missions with you, love holding, kissing—damn if that doesn’t sound like I’m falling in love with you.”
“Don’t,” she scolded, shaking a finger at him.
He grabbed hold of her finger. “You can’t tell me that I can’t love you.”
She pulled her finger free. “You can’t love me. It would never work.”
“Because you’re stubborn?”
Storm shook her head. “We’re two different people from two different worlds.”
Burke wanted to move closer, wrap his arms around her and ease her doubt, but he knew it was better to give her distance and let her savor his words until finally she took a taste and found them to her liking.
“We are more alike than you want to admit,” he said.
“We are nothing alike and our worlds are far different. You have wealth, land, security, and a future. I have nothing, least of all a future.”
He tapped his chest. “I am your future.”