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CHAPTER SIX

Daisy very much regretted it.

No, you don’t, that little whisper came, calling her a liar. Fine, she didn’t. But it was hard to feel a smidgeon of something that very much felt like regret when her heart was crushed.

She tossed the last piece of her clothing in her traveling case. She was going to hunt that rake down and give him a piece of her mind.

Urgh!

No, she couldn’t do that. It would only make her seem desperate, and she refused to be that woman. The kind of woman who chased after a man who had made it abundantly clear with his actions that he didn’t care.

He’s just being true to his nature.

True.

She’d known from the moment she decided to knock on his door, this was how it might end.

She’d hoped—no, expected—that she could keep him at her side with temptation and seduction.

But apparently, he wasn’t nearly as enthralled as she believed.

He had broken his precious rules for her yes, but just for one night.

She would not chase him.

She had already chased enough.

But could she truly just... let him go?

The thought was maddening. The idea of him slipping out of her life with no explanation, no second chance—that was what truly left her heart raw. The man hadn’t even had the decency to damn her to Hades to her face!

She exhaled sharply, smoothing her hands over her hair.

This wasn’t over. Not yet.

If nothing else, she would have her revenge. In some way. In some form.

“Rhys,” she muttered, eyes narrowing, “you just wait.”

A knock cut through her thoughts.

Daisy ignored it. She didn’t want?—

Another knock. Firm. Impatient.

She marched to the door, flung it open, and nearly staggered backward at the disheveled sight that greeted her.

Rhys.

Before she could find her voice, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He looked like a handsome, breathless mess.

“What are you doing here, Nightingale?” Daisy managed, folding her arms. The rest tumbled out before she could stop herself. “Weren’t you off on some rakish escape after a night of pleasure? Tell me, did you leave through the window this morning?”

“I left through the front door,” he said softly.

“Oh, well, that makes it all better.”

He flinched. “I came back.”

“Yes, I can see that. Why? Don’t tell me you had some grand epiphany that you couldn’t bear to part with me?”

“Yes.”

Hah! He—what? Had what? “You… must be jesting.”

His eyes bore into her. “I’m not.”

She blinked.

He stepped closer, eyes locked on hers. “I listened to the signs. The heavens didn’t want me to leave.”

“What does that mean?” Daisy demanded.

“It means, Daisy Lovenight, that I can’t run from you.”

Her pulse leapt. She didn’t want to believe him. Learning he’d left—likely right after she’d snuck back to her room—had hurt more than she cared to admit. It had been a glimpse of what lay ahead if she truly walked this path.

But blazes.

He looked at her like she was the answer to a question he hadn’t dared ask until now. She tried to hold onto her hurt, her vexation, but a hint of glee wiggled its way through the cracks. “And what do you want?”

“You. Just you.”

Daisy’s world spun for the third time.

She was such a beautiful sight, Rhys wanted to drop to his knees before her. Her hesitation was damn clear—so was her hurt. And so was her hope. She might not realize this, but at that moment, she was an open book.

And he loved her for it.

He loved her.

Dear God, so this was what it was.

Rhys didn’t do hope. But here he was—hoping like hell she didn’t reject him. Hoping she’d believe him. Hoping, despite everything, that he hadn’t already ruined his chance. And damn him, but it felt good to hope for something so true.

He had never felt more exposed in his life.

Not in all the battles he’d fought—fist, word, or otherwise. Not when he'd faced his father’s wrath. Not even the morning he'd walked away from Daisy, pretending it hadn’t torn something vital from his chest.

When had it started? Did it matter? No.

“You want me?” she asked.

He stepped up to her. “Yes.”

“You say that now, but how do I know you won’t run again the moment your precious rules prick your conscience?”

Fair question. One he deserved. “I vow it won’t.”

“But how do I know that?”

He caught her hands in his. “Because, Daisy, you are my exception. You are the rule I’ll always break.” And it was the god-honest truth. He might not deserve her, but that wasn’t enough for him to let her go. Not anymore. Not now that he understood.

“I—”

He silenced her with one of her own fingers, pressing it against her lips. “You never needed me to shine, Daisy Lovenight. Not for anyone. You shine bright all on your own. In fact, you light up my whole sky. But I very much need you. My world is dark without you.”

“Rhys.”

He grinned.

“You came to all that while on the road.”

“I had a long walk back. There was time.”

She grinned at him, and the smile squeezed his heart in a way nothing else ever had. “You can never take those words back.”

Thank God. “I won’t.”

“But you were wrong about one thing,” she murmured. “You did help me sparkle.”

He shook his head. “No, love. All you had to do was decide. I just had the honor of watching you do it.”

She arched a brow. “You’re never going to agree with me, are you?”

“No.” Never. His gaze fell onto the bed. “Were you planning to leave?”

A flush spread across her face, but she nodded. “I wasn’t going to stay after you left.”

Ah, damn it. “I’m sorry, Daisy.”

She smiled, squeezing his fingers. “I forgive you.”

He walked her towards the bed until her knees met the edge of the mattress. With a gentle press to her shoulders, he tipped her onto the bed and followed with a grin, sprawling over her.

She laughed. “What are you doing?”

“Seducing you.” His lips brushed against hers. “Let’s not leave here tomorrow at dawn.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And what happens tomorrow at dawn?”

“I kidnap you,” Rhys said solemnly. “And we elope.”

Her eyes widened. “Marriage?”

“Yes. What did you think, little witch?” He tilted his head. “That I’d whisk you away to keep you in some love nest and hide you from the world?”

“Well… not exactly that.”

“No,” he said firmly, leaving no room for any doubt. “I might have a notorious reputation, and you might not believe me just yet, but I will do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of your days.”

She stared up at him, her eyes shining with unshed emotion. “I’ll hold you to that promise, Rhys. Because I’ve very much fallen in love with you too, absurdly fast as it may sound.”

“Very absurd,” he agreed.

She smacked his arm.

He laughed, brushing his thumb over her cheek, pausing as he did a quick count in his head.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“There’s a thirteenth freckle.”

She blinked. “You counted?”

“Of course, but I seemed to have missed one before.”

“What does that mean?”

He kissed the spot. “Means I’ll keep looking. Always.”

Rhys didn’t know what the future might hold.

But he knew one thing for certain: it would be unbearably bleak without Daisy Lovenight.

And thank God he’d come back.

The End