Her Reluctant Groom (Groom Series, BOOK 2) by Gordon Rose

Author:Gordon, Rose [Gordon, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2011-10-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Marcus was relieved that Emma had believed his act. There was no way he could sleep after everything that had just happened between them, not to mention the horrific pain in his leg.

To Emma it seemed immaterial for him to remove his shirt. She was right. He had nothing to hide. She knew as well as anyone about the scars that covered his arms, chest, stomach, and back. The scars themselves weren't the real reason he had refused to remove his shirt and let her touch him. They only served to remind him once again of what he could never have: Emma. She may say she didn’t even see the physical scars that covered the upper half of his body, but she’d care about the rest. That was why the plan he’d developed last night had to work.

He grabbed one of the two pillows under his head and shoved it under his thigh for support. His leg hadn't hurt this badly since right after his accident. He'd certainly been taxing himself too much. Starting tomorrow he'd stay off his leg more, and in the process, put more distance between Emma and himself. Getting too attached to her or allowing her feelings for him to continue would only lead to more heartbreak in the end. He wouldn't avoid her altogether; that would be too obvious. But he'd keep his hands and lips to himself from now on.

Shutting his eyes, Marcus counted forward to one hundred, then backward to one twice before finally losing track of where he was and falling asleep, his hand loosely holding hers.

Emma's stirring woke Marcus just before dawn. Blinking his eyes to get accustomed to his surroundings, he realized Emma was once again lying on his chest and his arms were wrapped tightly around her. He loved the way she felt against him. Since she was asleep, he could fully enjoy her closeness one last time, so he didn't push her away.

“Marcus,” she whispered against his chest some time later.

“Hmm?”

She shifted against him to make herself more comfortable, making his discomfort increase tenfold. “I was wondering if you'd take me horseback riding this morning before the girls get up.”

His heart thudded in his chest. Why did she want to go horseback riding with him? Did she think him getting on a horse would magically make him forget his past and let go of any ill feelings she assumed he had because of his scars. Pushing his thoughts aside, he said, “Don't you have to see to getting the girls up and ready?”

“No.” She rolled off of him and propped her head up on her hand. “Molly's been attending to their needs before breakfast and after dinner.”

The smile on her face made the feeling of loss she'd created when she'd rolled off him disappear. “I don't know if I should.” He patted his left leg.

“Oh, I forgot,” she said with a blush. “How terrible of me. How about on Friday, then? Do you think that will be enough time for your leg to recover?”

Against his better judgment, he nodded.

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