not even a home. She was accustomed to a life of opulence and pleasure. He was content with simplicity.
Then there was the tiny factor that her father would never approve. Henry Cole wanted a son-in-law with old money, like Nathaniel Winthrop III. Not a poor light keeper’s son.
The hope in Victoria’s eyes was too much. He hated to disappoint her, but he couldn’t change who he was. There was no getting around the fact that he wasn’t the right man for her. He expelled a frustrated breath and walked to the window. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared out at the beam of moonlight making a path across the water.
After a moment, the squeak of the bed told him she’d risen. She padded across the room, and her soft footsteps stopped behind him.
“Tom,” she said. “I know you’re probably thinking of all the reasons why we shouldn’t have a relationship.” She touched his back lightly, but it was enough to burn through his shirt and heat his skin.
“Like the fact that you’re still Nathaniel’s?”
“I broke off the engagement. You know that.”
“But he still thinks you’re his. He’s waiting for you.”
She slid her arms around his waist, leaned into him, and rested her face against his back. At the pressure, he closed his eyes and fought against the desire to hold her. “Being with you is so different,” she whispered. “I never, ever felt this way about Nathaniel.”
“What way?”
“Like I’m falling in love.”
She was falling in love with him? Her words poured over him. Victoria Cole was falling in love with him? How was that possible? What did she see in him?
She rubbed his arms before finding his hands and lacing her fingers through his. For a long moment, he couldn’t move. He simply wanted to stand there and imprint every detail of the moment into his memory. The warmth of her arms, the smoothness of her fingers, the pressure of her body.
“What do you feel for me?” she finally asked tentatively.
“I’m trying to sort it out.” He didn’t know how else to respond. He couldn’t lie to her and tell her he felt nothing. But if he admitted the depth of his feelings, then he might possibly take them down a path he didn’t want to traverse. He’d already compromised his work. This would make things even worse.
As if reading his mind, she spoke. “I know you gave my father your word that our arrangement would stay professional and you’re a man who lives by his principles. I respect that about you. I don’t want you to do anything that would make you loathe yourself.”
The tension in his muscles eased, and he relaxed against her. This was one of the things he loved about her, that she was perceptive and unafraid of facing difficult issues.
“So that’s why I think you should stop being my bodyguard. Then you’re free. You wouldn’t have to worry about me being your client and the implications from that.”
He’d never stop worrying about her. Even if he wasn’t her bodyguard. From the moment he’d almost lost her in the carriage-ride kidnapping, he hadn’t been able to shake the terror of losing her. If he was honest with himself, he knew he never would have brought any other client home. He wouldn’t have suffered through the experience of facing his haunted past for anyone else.
But he’d do anything for her.
And yet, could he do this? Give up his position as her bodyguard? He hesitated. “I promised your father—”
“All my father wants is for me to be happy. If I’m happy with you, he won’t object. In fact, I think he’d give us his blessing.” With that, she tightened her hold around him. His pulse picked up its pace at the thought of giving in to all the feelings that had been growing for Victoria since the first time he’d met her.
No, he told himself sternly. He couldn’t give in to all of the longings. If he decided to explore a possible relationship, then he would start slowly and court her properly. It didn’t matter that they were already married and had shared a few passionate moments together. She deserved more than stolen kisses. They needed time to get to know one another, to explore and test their feelings, and to determine if they were a good fit or not.
“Tom?” Her voice was hopeful.
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. He didn’t want to let Mr. Cole down. But he had the feeling Victoria