Page 19 of Wallflower Gone Wild

“What are you doing?” she asked, confusion lacing her words.

“We need to talk, sweetheart.” He righted his own clothing, trying to hide the evidence of his arousal.

She stepped forward, her arms wrapping around his neck. “I don’t want to talk. I want you.”

Pressing his head to hers, his hand gripped the back of her neck, the silky strands of her hair tickling his fingertips.

“I want you too. Forever.” He brushed his lips against hers, feeling her body stiffen in shock.

“F-forever?”

He nodded, finding strength in her light-brown gaze. “Yes, I hadn’t always wanted it, but now I want nothing more but to spend the rest of my life proving that I am worthy of you.”

“Oh Mac,” she sighed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “What about my magazine? I have dreams Mac. I won’t abandon them, not even for you.”

He took her by the hand, kissing her fingertips.

Dear God, please let her forgive him.

“I would never ask you to surrender your hopes and dreams to anyone, especially me.” Exhaling a ragged breath, he held her gaze, the palm of his hands hot and filled with perspiration.

“You’d be the talk of the ton with a wife that works,” she said, a smile teasing on her kiss swollen lips and breaking his heart.

If only he could keep that smile safely in place forever. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters to me but you.” Mac swallowed down castle lump in his throat. “I have a confession?—”

“What confession?” she stroked his cheek, and he couldn’t help closing his eyes and basking in her touch a little while longer.

Opening his eyes, he willed his emotion away, not wanting to shed tears at his own stupidity. Now he was in jeopardy of losing the only person who meant anything to him because of cowardice and fear.

“When I first arrived at Crestview …” he began, his body trembling in fear. “My only thought was of my failing business. I never imagined that I would become so hopelessly in love?—”

She leapt at him crushing her body to his, peppering his face with kisses. “Oh Mac, I love you too. I’m just so afraid that I’ll have to give up everything like my mother did.”

She loved him.

Dear God, she loved him, and he’d deceived her their entire acquaintance.

He went cold, a chill running rapidly down his spine, a black hole of dread growing in the pit of his stomach.

“Mac?” she questioned, taking in what he was sure was an expression of horror.

“Letty, I’m sorry …” he shook his head repeatedly, searching for the courage to tell her what he had conspired to do.

Before he could open his mouth, footsteps and voices were heard around them.

“Lady Leticia!”

“Letty, where are you?”

Dread filled Mac as he quickly released Letty. They both were now fully clothed, but the evidence of their activities was obvious. Letty’s hair was completely freed from its confines, his own clothing was wrinkled, his shirt hanging vicariously free.

“Where on earth did she go?” Lady Pinerose’s voice came from somewhere behind where Mac and Letty were.

Bloody hell.

“I believe I saw her go in the same direction as Meriweather,” Cedemoor voice was unsurprisingly cheery.

Mac’s gaze swept over Letty, ensuring she wasn’t exposed in anyway. All color had left her, fear and trepidation clouding her beauty.