She looked up at him wryly, predicting,“Beautiful?”
“No,” he shook his head. Her feet slipped down to touch the floor, and his hands slipped around her hips.
“Oh, really?” she didn’t look affronted. Startled more than anything.
“Wait. Yes, oh my God, of course you’re beautiful.” He gave his numbskull head a shake. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. But you must know that already. Diamond of the first water and all.”
She just blinked.
Ack. He was making a mess of this. He wanted to say so much more than a trite compliment about her looks. They had just shared the most memorable event of his life to date, how could he be messing this up so badly?
“You’re so damn beautiful it hurts to look at you.”
She chuckled.
“But also, you’re…” What could he say? Why wouldn’t his mind cooperate with his heart? The floodgates would only hold for so long. But he knew, he could feel it, she wanted something for her life more than just marriage again. It seemed obvious that she was going to start looking for a wealthy husband. Someone who could take care of her again. And he knew he wasn’t that person. He had never taken care of anyone in his life. Nurturing. Responsible. Those weren’t words to describe him. But he didn’t want another moment to pass by without her being aware of her potential. The urgency ratcheted through him. She needed to hear it.
“Detta, you’re so much more than just a pretty face.” He cupped her jaw, whispering, “I think…you can do anything you want with your life. Nothing is too hard for you to do.”
She just stared at him. No chuckle. No blink. Wide eyes. And then, a slow trickle of tears crawled out of the corner of her eyes.
Her eyes closed, as if embarrassed. “I’m not usually a crier.”
“You had me fooled.” He squeezed his hands around her hips to tease her.
She sighed softly. Did she believe him? Did she trust that he was speaking to her as a man with at leastsomewisdom?
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not the gangly little boy I once was.” Her gaze stroked his biceps, as if to say,I’ve noticed.
And then her index finger poked into his chest, “I don’t know ifyouknow, but I was once a gangly little girl, and that gangly little girl liked you just as you were. And I like you still. Just as you are now.” Her eyes gleaming, she peered into him, into his soul. “You always know how to call out the best in people, Reggie. It’s one of the things I…like about you.” She wiped her cheeks. “I don’t know if it’s true, but I love what you said.”
“It’s true,” he reassured her and pulled her head against his chest. “You can have whatever you want.”
And he had to leave it at that because his heart was gushing.
“Thank you, Reggie.” She dipped her head. “I…erm…have to go…clean up.”
If he was the type to blush, his face would have been scalding. Here, she had been standing with his cum dripping down her leg and he was blabbering on with no thought to her predicament.
“I didn’t wipe you up, I’m such an idiot.” Throwing up her skirts, he ducked between her legs.
“Reggie!” The whisper was equal parts astonishment, anticipation, and reprimand.
He yanked out his handkerchief and cleaned up her leg. Her gorgeously creamy legs. Legs that later he would definitely have to spend more time admiring. He swept his hands down her legs to see if they were dry. Once he was pretty sure he had most of it, he left a kiss on her thigh.
“There.” He stood up. “At least that should be more comfortable walking back to your room.”
As if wiping her leg was his most scandalous behavior, she mumbled, “Thank you.” Then she was out the door before herealized he had been standing in front of her with the now damp cloth still in his hands.
He stuffed it into his pocket, muttering, “Numbskull.”
***
DETTA NEEDED TO CLEAR her head. Only, she couldn’t clear her thoughts enough to think of the best way to do that. Providence met her halfway.
Or more accurately, Charlotte met her halfway. She wasn’t quite the person Bernadette wanted to see mere moments after she had tupped Charlotte’s brother.
“Bernadette, just the person I was hoping to catch up with.” Reggie’s little sister snuck her hand into Bernadette’s. “I’m sorry I’ve been scarce. I’ ve been so preoccupied with wedding arrangements, and somehow I missed you at the ball. I hope you enjoyed yourself.”
