Page 28 of A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1)

Noah stretched out across the blanket in the yard behind their home, lying with Hannah beneath the warm sun on a very lazy Saturday afternoon.

“Let’s play it again,” Noah said, leaning his head on his hand, his arm propped up on his elbow. Hannah was curled up on her side next to him, and he hung his free arm over her, drawing her just a bit closer.

Hannah smiled, her eyes dreamy, as if about to drift off into sleep. “Play? I don’t believe it’s a game.”

“Well, it should be.” He nuzzled his nose into her neck, breathing in the soft feminine scent of her hair.

A soft vibration ran up Hannah’s throat as she chuckled. “Very well. Who shall go first?”

“I will. I have an abundance of things to say.” Noah ran his hand across her hip and down to the soft swell of her belly. He never tired of the sight or touch. Every time he felt a small movement inside of her, it amazed him anew. Noah pulled back just as Hannah’s eyes fluttered closed.

She lifted a hand to her closed lids to shield them from the sun. “I do not see how. It seems you would have run out of things months ago.”

“Nonsense. That is the wonderful thing about marriage. We will learn new things about each other for the rest of our lives.”

Hannah lifted her hand and peeked at him. “You should not provoke my emotions in my current state. I’m a regular watering pot.”

Noah smiled, his gaze wandering her features—the dusting of freckles across her nose, the green of her eyes, the red of her hair that shone brighter under the sun, the swell of her lips which he ached to kiss. He moved his hand to her face, brushing a soft strand of hair back from her cheek, then dipped his mouth to hers, savoring the moment.

Hannah laughed against his lips.

He pulled back. “Really? I know you laugh at inappropriate moments, but when we are kissing—”

Hannah tipped her head back as she laughed even harder, swatting a hand at his chest. “No,” she said, then took a deep breath to settle herself. “I was only laughing because you seem to have become distracted and forgotten your original task.”

“What task,” he murmured, then leaned nearer, trailing kisses along her jaw. Hannah remained quiet as he placed a lingering kiss just beneath her ear. “You seem to have forgotten as well.” He smiled against her skin.

Hannah laughed, pushing lightly against his shoulder until he was far enough away to look into her eyes. “We were supposed to be playing a game, remember?”

“Ah, yes.” He laid on the blanket beside her so their eyes were at the same level. “But I like the game we were just playing as well. Who is to say I cannot have both?”

“Do you not remember how we got into this predicament in the first place?” She put a hand to her small, rounded belly.

“I would say that I know very well.” He grinned as he laid his hand over the top of hers, gently grazing his fingers across the soft skin on the back of her hand. For a while, they laid together in silence, letting the soft breeze coax them into a sort of trance. When Hannah’s eyes shut again, Noah said, “Should I take you inside to lay down? You seem tired.”

She shook her head and her eyes fluttered open. “I want to let you play your game.”

“Which one?” He smiled as she shoved his shoulder again.

“The first one.”

Noah pretended to be put out. “Fine,” he said with a sigh. But then his smile softened as he gazed at Hannah. It was a wonder how much he could love a single person. It was as if his heart couldn’t contain it all, and it spilled over in the small touches he stole throughout the day, or the little compliments that made her blush and shove his shoulder as she gave an uncomfortable chuckle. Little by little, he saw her hesitance to his words thaw. She accepted them more easily.

Hannah widened her eyes, as if waiting for him to say something.

Noah reached forward, gently touching his finger to the tip of her nose. “I love your sneezes.”

Hannah smiled, and a laugh burst out of her. “You do not!”

He pretended to be just as shocked as she was, widening his eyes and opening his mouth. “I do too.”

Her laughter softened into a small snort. “I do not see how that is possible.”

“Because it’s uniquely you.”

Her smile turned into a pout, and the corner of her lip wobbled. “You really should stop being so sweet. You spoil me.”

“Never,” Noah said, shaking his head. He dipped his head and kissed the place where her mouth trembled. “I love everything that makes you, you.”

A tear streaked down her face, and Noah’s finger followed it down the gentle slope of her cheek. “Should I stop?” he asked.

Hannah gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. “No.”

“Hmmmm.” He stroked his fingers across her arm, sending little chill bumps over her skin. “I love the freckles on your arms.”

“I really should shade myself more,” she said, her words becoming fainter.

Noah used the tip of his finger to trace imaginary lines on her arm. “I think I could use them to draw a map.”

Her chest jerked with a laugh, and she closed her eyes. “That feels very nice, but you better stop before I fall asleep.”

Instead of stopping, he continued his lazy pattern on her skin. “I also love how content you were to stay in the dowager house until we found a place of our own.”

“Of course.” She yawned. “As long as we are together, I do not care where we live.”

Noah lifted his hand and began mindlessly removing the pins from Hannah’s hair.

“Noah,” Hannah said with a laugh. “My hair.”

“What?” He continued plucking them out until her locks laid unencumbered across the blanket. “You will have Joyce style it for dinner with my parents anyway. So what’s the harm in this?” He moved his attention to gently combing out the strands and running his fingers along her scalp.

Her breathing slowed, and she gave a soft sigh. “I suppose I can allow it.”

“You should just rest and relax. If you fall asleep, I promise to wake you in time to get ready.”

“Perhaps I will sleep for a short while.” She reached a hand up, taking his wandering fingers into her grasp. “But you must lie with me.”

Noah eased himself down beside her, and Hannah pulled their joined hands up between them. After a while, when he suspected she had dozed off, Hannah’s eyes opened.

“I want to take my turn before I nap,” she said.

His brow furrowed. “You don’t need to. It was my idea, and you are tired.”

“Your heart.”

His mouth quirked up. “You always say that.”

Hannah toyed with their fingers. “Because it means so much to me. I could say so many other things. Your thoughtful gestures, the way you make me feel loved and cared for, your dedication to our growing family . . . but what it all comes down to is your loving and gentle heart. And I still can’t believe it’s mine.”

He took his fingers from her grasp, which caused her brow to pucker until he pulled her hand up to his chest, gently unfolding her fingers until they lay splayed against his chest. “Forever yours.”

She swallowed, her eyes misting. “I have changed my mind.”

“About what?”

“I want to play your second game.”

He gave a breathy laugh, leaning his face forward until his mouth barely touched hers. “Your wish is my command.” And then Noah kissed his wife.