she finished, he heard her lift the blanket and step out of the tent. He tried to compose himself, tried to put on his most stoic expression, tried to hide the strange way she was making him feel.
Her footsteps crossed the room and stopped behind him. He knew he should turn and smile and pretend that everything was normal. But he needed another minute before he could face her.
She waited a few seconds before tentatively touching his arm. “Tom?” The uncertainty in her voice told him that she was confused by his aloofness. If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up hurting her feelings again, and he didn’t want to do that simply because he was a weak man who couldn’t contain his desire for her.
He gave himself a mental shake and decided he’d have to act around her too now. He’d have to pretend that he wasn’t attracted to her, that nothing was different than before. He took a deep breath and turned.
Her hair hung in wet strands, and her bodice stuck to her skin where she’d neglected to completely dry herself. But she was still utterly breathtaking, especially when she offered him a smile. “You should take a dip.”
“I’m fine.” He tried to smile and prayed it didn’t come out a grimace.
She studied his face for a moment before her gaze shifted to his chest. Her lashes fell shyly against her flushed cheeks.
Had she seen the desire in his expression? It was likely written all over his face. He shifted, intending to put more distance between them, but before he could move, she leaned into him and slipped her arms around his waist. Then she buried her face into his chest and hugged him.
For an instant, the move took him by surprise. He stood frozen.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
In response, he slid his arms around her and hugged her back, relishing the way she fit so perfectly against him. The lingering scent of lilac soap surrounded her, and her damp hair brushed his chin.
“You were very sweet to prepare me a bath,” she said.
He let himself stroke her wet hair.
At his touch, she snuggled against him, and he had to close his eyes to think rationally. “And thanks for treating me normally today. Everyone has always handled me like I’m a breakable piece of crystal. No one’s ever been as honest with me as you are.”
“And that’s good?”
He could feel her lips curve into a smile. “Yes. You challenge me to be a better person. And no else does that, except maybe my mother.”
“So what are you saying?” He tried to infuse humor into his tone. “I’m too soft and womanly?”
She laughed lightly and tightened her arms around his waist. “Maybe.”
He pulled back in mock horror.
She laughed again, louder. He loved the sound of it.
“So, with the bath, do you think we’ve convinced your parents that we’re—” She blushed.
“Hopefully.” He could just imagine both of them sitting downstairs listening to the sounds coming from the bedroom and exchanging smug smiles. “But I should warn you, I have to sleep in here too.”
Her eyes widened, and her lips formed around words of protest.
He quickly silenced her with a finger against her lips. “I slept on the floor by the window last night.”
She glanced from the bed to the floor and back and then visibly swallowed. She wasn’t frightened was she? Surely she knew him well enough by now to realize she had nothing to worry about.
He lowered himself to the sofa and patted the spot next to him. “We might as well get settled. They won’t expect us to come out for a while.”
Again, Victoria blushed. But she quickly complied and sat down on the opposite end of the sofa. When she finally chanced a glance at him and nibbled her lip, he had the urge to close the gap between them and pull her back into his arms. But the inner conscience he’d worked so hard to cultivate reminded him of his promise to Mr. Cole. He chastised himself for his wayward desires and prayed he’d have the strength to survive the next few weeks without going mad.
He leaned back casually. “So try to tell me something about you that I don’t already know.”
Chapter 12
Victoria placed a fork next to the last plate and then stood back and admired her table-setting efforts.
“It looks lovely,” Zelma said from her spot at the dining room table, where Victoria had already positioned her in the moveable chair.