Willed to Wed by Wilma Counts

Author:Wilma Counts [Counts, Wilma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2015-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

Emily was not ready to forgive her sometime swain. If Richard Hendley expected her to accept him back into her good graces any time soon, he was whistling in the wind. She walked beside him stiffly, but totally aware of the muscled forearm under her hand.

Richard cleared his throat. “Are you still angry?”

“Why should I not be?”

“It was such a trivial thing, after all—”

“Trivial! You accuse me of being a fortune hunter, and now you have the audacity to label the matter trivial?” She tried to pull her hand from his arm, but he quickly caught it with his other hand and refused the separation.

They came to a stairway leading to the beach and he guided her down the steps. At the bottom, he swung her around so her back was against the wall and his gloved palms flat against it on either side of her shoulders.

“Emily, please. You know very well that was not exactly what I meant.”

“Well, that is exactly what you said,” she retorted, not looking at him.

“I know it did not come out very well, but I only meant to point out what we both know—you must make an advantageous marriage. It is just that I ... I care about you . . . and as your friend, I would hate to see you—”

“You just listen to me, Richard Hendley,” she interrupted fiercely. She looked squarely at him, glad the bright moonlight allowed her to see him clearly. She measured each word carefully. “I shall never marry where there is no affection. Never.”

He looked at her silently a moment. “I am glad to hear you say that.”

“It is not just words, you know.” Her tone softened.

“I did not suppose it was.” Encouraged, he moved even closer and slid his hands to her shoulders. “Ah, Emily, let us not part on a sour note. I do not want to go off to France with you thinking ill of me.” He gave her a brotherly peck on her brow.

“No,” she breathed, turning her face up, her lips slightly parted.

Their gazes locked and as the silence lengthened, she licked her lips nervously. He lowered his mouth to hers in a most unbrotherly manner. Her response, at first tentative, intensified. He was the first to pull away.

“Lord, I had no right to do that. I’m sorry, Emily,” he whispered.

“I am not sorry at all,” she said frankly. Then, irrepressible as ever, she added, “You know, that was my first real kiss. I quite liked it.”

He grinned. “Still, it should not have happened . . . though I am glad you liked it. Come, we had best get back to the others.”

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