Heart of Gold (Harmony Ridge Historical Romance Book 1) by Olene Quinn

Author:Olene Quinn [Quinn, Olene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Olde Thyme Press
Published: 2023-02-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Callum woke to the first warm, golden tones of dawn escaping through the side of the drawn curtains and falling upon his eyes. He turned away from the light and looked to Ada. She lie curled up on her side next to him, her loose braid mussed against the white, cotton sheets, her head half turned into her pillow. Her arms were partly extended, her small hands reached out almost to touch his arm.

Callum felt that he had witnessed her in a state of constant agitation since the wedding, riled in turns by grief, anger, embarrassment, relief, fear, and, he dared to think, perhaps even a bit of desire. Now, she looked peaceful at last. For a moment, he was taken by her beauty, lying there in her floral gown, with her lashes turned down on her round cheeks, and wispy, golden waves of hair fanned out around her, totally unselfconscious and unaware that she was being admired. His eyes caught on the golden band on her finger which lie between them, the hastily procured and very simply engraved ring that would now rest there forever.

Then, his gaze continued from her lovely fingers to his heavily scarred wrist which rested upon his waist.

That amputation had not caused him much pain for years and he could not believe his ill fortune in having woken as he did last night. Worse still was Ada waking at once, before he had time to gather himself up and leave. The shift of the mattress when she sat up hurt almost as much as the phantom pains. Callum did not want her there. At least, he did not want her there until she placed her hand on his back and leaned nearer to him. Then, his lifelong habit of slinking away like a sick cat was broken and he sought comfort in her arms.

Callum still did not really understand why Ada agreed to this marriage. Even with her lying beside him now it was hard to believe she had not left yesterday. Why should she stay? To get unwittingly caught in a feud betwixt himself and her father? To watch the mine and all their fortunes dissolve? What good would it do her to determine to love a man so little used to company he could hardly think what to say to her? A man whose first instincts were to push her away, to retreat, to burrow into solitude? A man who had not the courage to kiss her first? One who woke her with his phantom sufferings?

He saw very little she could find desirable in this match. Yet, there she lie with that slim ring shining on her finger.

He did not want her to end up regretting it.

Ada stirred, stretching herself suddenly from her curled position and her eyes turned up on him. “Feeling better?” she asked, reaching over to drowsily touch his wrist where it rested on his stomach. The deep scars he he had intended to keep meticulously hidden from her view did not seem to bother her at all.

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