Page 25 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)

“Kiss me back, lass.” Molding his mouth to hers, he sampled Heaven for the second time and sighed.

Easing back from her, he tipped up her chin and stared into her brilliant green eyes.

“Whether or not ye believe me, Temperance, ye are me love, and yer daughter is me heart. I’ll never intentionally hurt ye, and I bloody well would never lay a hand on Maddy if that’s what has ye worrying and not accepting me offer of marriage. ”

Temperance licked her lips and closed her eyes. “I haven’t been kissed in three years.” She slowly opened them. “Today, you kissed me twice.”

He slid his arm around her waist, anchoring her to him. “The first time involved a promise. Just now ’twas me vow. Will ye think about it? Will ye open yer heart and give me the chance to prove me love for yerself and yer darling girl?”

“Get yer arse down here, Flaherty!” O’Malley barked.

Maddy’s giggle floated up to them. “You said a bad word!”

Temperance laughed, a joyous sound that wrapped around Flaherty’s aching heart like a hug from the lovely woman herself. Her expression turned to one of concern. “Where will we live? Where will I work? How can I keep Maddy from learning all of the guards’ colorful expressions?”

“Bugger it, Flaherty!” Garahan called.

Flaherty winced. “Watch yer language! There’re little ears down there.” Turning his attention back to the woman in his arms, he answered, “We’ll live here on the duke’s estate. His Grace has gifted each of the married men in his guard a cottage. As to work, do ye have to? I can support ye.”

“I do not know if I can be idle for more than an hour.”

He sensed that she did not mean it as a slight against his ability to provide for her, but a need to keep busy.

“Well now, I’m thinking Her Grace would be happy to have to ye continue to lend a hand in the nursery.

Both Helen and Emily have been feeling poorly and will be moving slower than normal for the next few months until their babes are born.

Richard and Abigail are fast, now that they’ve got their feet beneath them. ”

“Maddy learned to run as soon as she could walk.”

“So Ma has always claimed about me brothers and meself.”

“We’d have to ask Maddy, and you’d have to ask His Grace.”

Flaherty surprised her by patting his waistcoat pocket. “I’ve already spoken to the duke.”

She was staring at his hand when she asked, “Are you looking for your handkerchief?”

He chuckled. “Nay, lass. I’ve the special license His Grace procured for me safe in me pocket.

We can be married whenever ye like—as long as ’tis soon.

I can’t give ye the protection of me name until we’re wed.

” He traced the tip of his finger along the curve of her cheek.

“I vow to protect ye and Maddy with me life, Temperance. Say yes.”

“Yes.”

He crushed her to him and sealed his pledge, and her acceptance, with all of the pent-up need inside of him.

When he could bear to end the kiss, he promised, “I’ll plan to see the two of ye are safe, happy, and loved for as many days as the Good Lord has in store for me.

I’ve family enough to step in and protect ye, should anything happen to me. ”

Temperance slid her arms around his neck and urged him closer. He obliged, and this time she initiated the kiss. Her passion echoed his own as she tasted him fully, tracing her tongue over the rim of his mouth and nipping his bottom lip.

“God help me, lass.”

The whack on the back of his head had him spinning around, with Temperance behind him. “What in the bloody hell is wrong with ye, Garahan?”

“For feck’s sake, Flaherty, if I can’t be kissing me wife, ye can’t be kissing Temperance.”

“She just agreed to be me wife!” Flaherty growled.

“Well now, that’s another thing altogether,” Garahan said with a smile. “Ye can kiss her once more, then get yer buggering arse to yer post! Eamon is on his way to take his shift on the roof.”

“I don’t need yer permission to kiss me wife.”

“She’s not yer wife yet, boy-o.”

“He’s right, Flaherty—”

“Rory,” he corrected her.

Temperance smiled up at him. “He’s right, Rory. We’re not married yet.”

“Why don’t we spread the good news and see when the vicar can marry us?”

“Ye’ll need to speak to His Grace,” Garahan warned.

Flaherty grinned. “He handed me a special license a few hours ago.”

“Well then. Ye’ll need to speak to Her Grace.”

“We will. Well?” Flaherty said. “What are ye waiting for? Ye need to get to yer post.”

Garahan was laughing as he descended the ladder.

Flaherty took advantage of the moment and kissed the breath out of his wife-to-be. When she sagged against him, he rasped, “Close yer eyes and hold onto me, lass. Don’t look down. Don’t let go.”

“I won’t let go in this lifetime for however many days God has in store for the three of us.”

Flaherty secured her in his arms. Using his body to shield her, he descended the ladder and kissed her again.

“Took ye long enough to get down,” Garahan grumbled.

“Where’s Maddy?” Flaherty asked.

“She told O’Malley she needed to ask Constance to bake an iced teacake for her ma and Just Flaherty.”

“You still need to ask her, Rory,” Temperance said.

“That I will, lass. That I will.”