Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Author:Karen Witemeyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance;Western fiction;Romance fiction;Novels;FIC042110;FIC042030;FIC027360
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2023-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

A frisson of energy radiated up Titus’s arm from the place where her fingertips brushed against his bicep to course through his chest, causing his heart to start thumping at an abnormal rate. What was happening to him? He was supposed to be immune to beautiful women.

As she smiled up at him, the truth dawned. It wasn’t her beauty that stirred his blood and threw his pulse into chaos. It was her spirit. Her humility and joy. The delight she found in items that carried no real monetary value. The gratitude that glistened in her eyes without a hint of entitlement to dim the shine. The way she returned to calling him Titus in her excitement, bypassing the formality he’d tried to establish between them—a formality that no longer held any appeal.

That’s where the danger lay. Not in the delicate perfection of her face or the shapeliness of her figure. It was her exuberant heart he found so hard to resist. It called to him. Tempted him to consider that the solitary life he’d planned for himself might not be the only road open to him.

Uncomfortable with the direction of his thoughts and the disturbing effect of her touch, Titus nodded in response to her appreciation, then eased back toward the door. “Glad to be of service.”

When her hand fell away, he told himself it was relief he felt, not loss, but the lie was too flimsy to bear scrutiny. Which was why he sent a prayer of thanks heavenward when Coy pushed through the back door, his big hands shoved through the handles of a laundry basket.

“Took down the rest of the sheets for ya,” Coy said, his face reddening when he met Penelope’s gaze. Ducking away from her attention, he glanced at Titus as he shimmied between him and Penelope. His expression was not nearly as friendly or eager to please when aimed in Titus’s direction. “Ike and I will get ’em folded and put away before supper,” Coy promised her as he strode toward the parlor, “so don’t give ’em another thought.”

“Thank you!” Penelope beamed a smile at the man’s back, as if he might feel the warmth through his spine even if he was too bashful to experience it firsthand. “I’d completely forgotten about the clothesline.”

Ike came through the door next and picked up the conversation where Coy had left off. “Jeb and Angus volunteered for dish duty, too, so you’ll have the entire evening to yourself, Miss Penny.” He patted her shoulder as he walked by, his usual grin in place. Until he glanced in Titus’s direction. His mouth flattened into a line that seemed almost . . . threatening. “You’ve had a trying day, my dear. It’s only right that you enjoy some peace and quiet after supper.”

Titus read the man’s meaning loud and clear. No more interrogation. No more digging up of painful memories. No more causing Penelope any kind of discomfort whatsoever. Titus had done enough damage for one day.

He dipped his chin at Ike, signaling his agreement.

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