Pretending to be the Mountain Man's Wife by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller [Beller, Misty M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books, Inc.

CHAPTER 14

Gil had no idea how much time had passed when Jess straightened from against his chest. Her red-rimmed eyes showed just how hard this afternoon had been for her. “I told you that so you would know how dangerous they are. Jedidiah and my father.” Though no fresh tears tracked down her cheeks, grief and sadness filled her tone. “We can’t make a wrong step, Gil, or they’ll hurt you. I thought…” Her voice faded, but then it gained strength. “I’d thought if you were married to me, you’d be protected. But if he stole from you… Father’s greed more than trumps whatever affection he has for me.”

Gil had to take the weight of this worry off her shoulders. All these years, it must have smothered her.

He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger, a touch that hopefully came across as playful. “Don’t worry about me, Jess. I can handle them. I promise.”

The apprehension didn’t leave her eyes, but that tap on her nose brought his focus a little lower. To her lips.

He jerked his eyes back up. She needed comfort right now. To know she was safe. Not amorous advances.

But her expression had shifted to something more…aware. Her gaze flicked down to his mouth and hovered there. She rolled her lips in, her tongue peeking out between them like she was moistening them.

Aw, man. What was he supposed to do with that?

She’d appealed to him from the very beginning, even in the general store, and when he’d caught sight of her up on this mountain, she’d seemed like an angel.

An angel he’d just been holding in his arms. Their emptiness felt stark now, cold after the warmth of her.

Did she want him to kiss her? Would it resurrect awful memories of another man? That thought alone held him back with an iron chain.

Yet her eyes held no sign of fear. If anything, they’d darkened with desire. She leaned forward a little. If he read her right, she welcomed him.

He couldn’t take advantage of her, certainly not when she was so vulnerable.

He brushed his fingers over her cheek, relishing the softness of her skin. “Jess, I want to kiss you.” Talk about an understatement. “But I won’t unless you want me to.”

A hint of question crossed her expression, but not fear. She regarded him, those wide blue eyes so beautiful. So rich. She seemed to be searching for something. For his motives? He could talk for days about why he wanted to kiss her. But maybe she just needed to know if she could trust him. She would need to see that for herself.

At last, she gave a tiny nod. “I do.”

The iron chain holding him back turned to warm butter, but he forced himself not to dive in. Not to scare her. This woman deserved to be treasured. Cherished. And he would show her what that meant.

He cupped her jaw with tender fingers, brushing his thumb over the full line of her bottom lip.

A shiver ran through her, making it even harder for him to move slowly.

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