Page 12 of Nobody’s Angel (World of de Wolfe Pack #5)

He set down her feet and rose to drink his glass of port, draining the crimson liquid in one swallow.

He then crossed the room to pour himself another.

Lettie had only taken a few sips of her port so he didn’t bother to offer to fill her glass.

“And so what if their bloodlines have crossed once or ten times or a thousand times? How does it connect any of them to me?”

“It just does.” She set her feet on his lap again the moment he returned to her side. The unexpected gesture raised the inferno already raging in his blood. Was there even a word to describe this intense and fiery heat?

“Lettie, that is not a logical answer.”

She emitted a ragged breath. “Who ever said any of this was logical?”

Brynne stared at her for a long moment. This search was breaking her heart.

He couldn’t allow it to go on. But she was not the weak, biddable sort of girl to listen.

The more he tried to talk her out of pursuing the investigation, the more she frowned at him and seemed to firm her resolve to do precisely the opposite of what he recommended.

Still, he tried to explain all the reasons why she should give up and put a stop to her plans.

“Stop this investigation? Are you mad? And if you think I’m going to give up on finding out who you are, then you are sadly mistaken.

If the wolf leads me nowhere, then I shall go back to Jeremiah’s original advice and look for my Bert.

B-E-R-T. Because that B-E-R-T is you and no other.

I’ll search every nobility birth registry in existence in England from the time of your birth in order to narrow down the possibilities as to who you might be. ”

She kicked her foot lightly against his thigh once more. “Somewhere there is a record of you. Brynne, you are somebody. And there may be someone important out there who is looking to find you, too.”

When she kicked him lightly again, he caught her by the leg.

A long, silky leg. His callused palm wrapped around her soft flesh.

Her gown slipped upward as she playfully squirmed to break free, exposing more of her exquisite legs to his view.

Had his brain been functioning, he would have released her immediately. But it wasn’t and he didn’t.

His thumb stroked her skin along the curve of her calf.

She suddenly stopped struggling and it was obvious that neither of them was breathing because the only sound that reached Brynne’s ears was the pop and sizzle of the wood burning in the fireplace and the whoosh and howl of the wind as it intensified outside.

“Brynne,” she said in a sultry whisper, her invitation unmistakable. “It isn’t fair that women who meant nothing to you should know you, but I cannot.”

He released her leg as though it had suddenly turned to flames and burned him.

He’d imbibed too much this evening. That and the knowledge that he had only a few more hours left with Lettie had weakened his defenses.

Indeed, that and the knowledge that Lettie looked so achingly beautiful by firelight, the reds and golds of her hair shining under its fiery glow, the green of her eyes sparkling like emeralds, the pink of her skin just begging to be kissed and stroked, and he was just the man to do it.

This is why he had to leave earlier than planned.

Valiant had healed sufficiently… and even if he hadn’t… Brynne was leaving, even if he had to carry the damn horse all the way to Southampton on his own back.

Lettie grudgingly allowed Brynne to escort her out of the parlor and to the stairs.

She was so angry at these two important men in her life, Brynne and Jeremiah.

Brynne because he stubbornly refused to accept that they belonged together.

Jeremiah because he was the worst guardian angel in existence and thwarted her every attempt to help Brynne, although he always claimed that his advice was easy to understand and that she simply wasn’t paying close enough attention.

She would if he were speaking the King’s English instead of his garbled angel-speak.

“Guardian angels are supposed to grant wishes,” she muttered, climbing the first step and turning to face Brynne who seemed particularly big beside her since she was walking on the cold floor in her bare feet and carrying her damp evening slippers in her hand.

They stood face to face, and although their eyes were on a level to each other, they were equals in no other respect, for his muscled shoulders and imposing presence made her feel quite small.

She was referring to their physical inequality only, of course.

Brynne treated her as an equal in all other respects, and when it came to matters of courtship, he treated her as a better.

He had a way of looking at her as though she were the most beautiful, special woman in the world and he was undeserving of her notice.

“Did you say something to me, Lettie?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest and grinned softly when she scowled at him again.

“No, I was admonishing Jeremiah.” In that moment, she could have done many things.

Thrown her arms around Brynne’s neck and kissed him wantonly and recklessly.

Or thrown her arms around his neck and kicked him between his legs in that sensitive spot where it would hurt most. Her feeling were frayed and swinging wildly like a pendulum that was out of control.

“But since Jeremiah doesn’t seem to be listening to me, I may as well turn my anger on you. ”

She folded her arms across her chest to mimic his stance and noticed the sudden brightening of his eyes as his gaze flicked over her chest, but he quickly stifled whatever desire he was feeling and his expression was once more unreadable.

“I don’t know why I bother with you at all.

You’re not the only one who’s despairing, Brynne. I am, too.”

“I know, Lettie,” he said in that soft voice of his that always melted her heart.

“So I would appreciate not being treated as a helpless pet who must be protected from the cruelties of the big, dangerous world.”

“You’re not helpless, but the world can be dangerous and cruel.

I can’t help wanting to protect you from it or your wayward plans.

Do you think I don’t want to kiss you? Do you think I haven’t dreamed of taking you in my arms or setting my worldly possessions at your feet?

But that’s the problem, I haven’t any possessions. I haven’t anything to offer you.”

“Yes, you do. You have your heart. Offer me that. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

” There, now he knew what she felt in her own heart.

She rested her hand on the bannister for support.

She’d never had such an open discussion about their friendship before and wanted to pursue it further.

But Brynne was hurting and she could tell that he was going to build his walls and walk away– no, run away from her– as fast as he could.

“I’m not enough, Lettie. Offering you my heart isn’t either. How can I approach your father? What shall I say? Please allow me to marry your daughter although I can offer her nothing nor can I assure you that she’ll have a roof over her head or a meal to fill her stomach every day.”

She knew he was right, but it didn’t change how she felt about him. “I have a dowry.”

He laughed mirthlessly as he ran a hand roughly through his hair. “You think I’d take what’s yours? I’m no fortune hunter. I will not touch your funds.”

Which is why she trusted him with all that she owned and all that she was.

He’d never disappoint her. “I know you’d use it wisely, that you’d put it toward building a life for us wherever we settled.

” They were still standing eye to eye but she saw the frustration in his stance and knew they were a thousand miles apart.

“I’m not taking you with me, Lettie. My ship could go down before I ever make it across the ocean. Let’s speak of it no more. We both know it won’t work, so let’s not pretend it will. We’ll only make it harder on ourselves.”

She wanted to grab him by the front of his elegant shirt and shake him soundly.

“You’re not going to drown. Jeremiah hasn’t shown me dangerous waters or water of any sort, for that matter.

Wolves. Roses. Battles. That’s it.” Perhaps more would be revealed in dreams while she slept, because she’d felt a sudden shiver at the mention of water.

However, she wasn’t going to let on to Brynne.

He’d think her sudden concern was ridiculous and blame their present discussion for putting this new fear into her head.

But there was something… she’d just felt another, stronger shiver. “If there is a danger, then I want to face it with you.”

He frowned at her, but his voice remained gentle. “Stop it, Lettie.”

“I can’t. Brynne, give me these two remaining days and I won’t ever mention this investigation again. Promise me you won’t leave before then.”

He hesitated just long enough to reveal that he had intended to do just that.

She gasped. “Because it would be too cruel of you to leave me now that we’re so close to the end, whatever that end may be. I don’t think I’d ever forgive you if walked out on me now. How could you do such a beastly thing?”

“Lettie–”

“Promise me, Brynne. I deserve two more days.” She felt tears coming on and knew she was about to turn into a watering pot. “ We deserve it. Give us a chance.”

He didn’t seem at all pleased, but as her tears began to fall, he groaned and gave a curt nod to signal his agreement. “Two days.”

“Promise me.”

“Promise.”

She shuddered in relief. Two more days. He wouldn’t leave before then. “Thank you,” she whispered, putting her arms around his neck and leaning her head on his shoulder as her tears began to fall in earnest. They were tears of relief, hard fought and he’d only agreed to another two days.

What then?

It was still so little time.