confidence in a kid, but street fights with the bullies was. He’d had to earn every ounce of respect one scrap at a time, but never could he earn enough to stand in the same circles as Kat Whitford. A lifetime of trying could never prove him worthy of her.
She stared off to the trickling water below, the blue sky and thick white clouds reflected in its shallow depths. Calmness curved her features, but the deception couldn’t stop the running of thoughts behind her singular gaze. Finally, she turned back to him. “Do you really have a talking cow?”
He snorted. “Do you always get uncomfortable with compliments? For a woman who prefers the truth, you sure don’t take them well.”
“Truth is one thing, false flattery another.”
“You really don’t see it, do you?” Angry frustration crackled to the surface. He surged to his feet. “You really don’t see what an incredible woman you are just because a few barmy dunderheads were too intimidated by the challenge. A man comes along to tell you differently and you don’t believe him. You don’t believe me.”
“I’ve been led astray by men proclaiming they speak the truth, but in the end the words all twisted into the scenario they wanted. Never what I wanted. Never what I needed. But like a fool I went along with it because I wanted to believe that he had my interest at heart.”
The breaking of her voice on he pierced his anger like an arrow. “Your father set it all up, didn’t he? The chump, the engagement. All because he needed something from the boy. What was it? A title, land, investments?”
“The Richmond family lost most of their fortune after the Great War, but their name is one of the most respected and affluent in the county. Marriage to a powerful family, like mine, could make them great again. I thought Marcus liked me well enough on his own until I found the signed contract between him and my father a week before the ceremony.” Her face twisted with the betrayal. “Father couldn’t trust me to make my own match. Had to do it himself.”
“I’m not this Richmond bloke, and I’m sure not your da.” Guilt knocked out the anger as soon as the words left his mouth. Of course he was like her old man. He was on this very mission because Sir Alfred didn’t have faith in his own daughter to bring Ellie back without his help. Her trust betrayed again, and he was to pay the price once she discovered his part in it.
“Those two never saw what I see.” Bending down, he grabbed her hands and hauled her to her feet. Desire shot through him, but he resisted the urge to pull her close and prove his words until she had no breath left to refuse. “For once, save me the headache and agree with me.”
Her slender eyebrow rose. “If I start agreeing with you now, it’ll set a bad precedent. And we have a long road ahead of us.”
“Indulge me.”
Her eyebrow dropped to furrow into doubt. “I’m surprised my headaches haven’t driven you off.”
“Haven’t so far.” Only as the words left his mouth did he realize how much he meant them. For the first time in his life, he wanted to be there for someone. For her. And the admission terrified him to his soul. “And before you say I had no choice in the matter, let me just say that any other mission chap would’ve left at any one of the troubles you’ve found yourself in the middle of. The movie premiere, the train station, Hitler’s dinner party—take your pick.”
She eyed him for a long minute. “All right. I concede. Your life has gotten exponentially more problematic since we’ve met. But if I’m to get into trouble with anyone . . . I’m glad it’s you.”
Her hopeful smile was all the encouragement he needed. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he stroked his thumbs over her soft pink cheeks that warmed with each passing second. In return, his pulse throbbed with the need of her. Lifting her face, she grazed her lips over his to press a kiss to his cheek. Her soft breath washed over his skin, tingling the hairs to stand on end. With excruciating slowness, her lips traced the short path back to his mouth to hover inches away from them. Her eyelashes swept up, liberating the bold blue and green to reach into his soul and