He sighed. “Part of me already does. Your faith in me intimidates me though.”
Hmm. She wasn’t sure what to say next. She stepped back. Part of his heart was more than she’d had before--and time was on her side as his wife. She took a few deep breaths while she decided what to do and then nodded at him.
Before she could speak she heard silverware being set in the next room. Leo nodded at her and said, “Dinner is here.”
End of conversation, so she listened to the rain.
Leo wouldn’t let a scandal ruin them and what had happened before would soon be a distant memory. Possibilities of their entire life flashed before her eyes. They would have a chance to be happy and maybe have the children they discussed. He’d be at her side.
The clanging of silverware stopped and they walked over to the dining area. “Alone again,” Leo said.
She hugged her waist as she stared at him and asked, “Why would my faith intimidate you?”
He bowed his head. “Because you expect me to be a good ruler, a good husband and a better man than I am.”
Anna hadn’t known Leo suffered from self-doubt. He had no reason to ever think less of himself. She reached out and brushed the warm skin of his elbow to bring him toward her. “You are a good man. I don’t know why you keep saying that.”
He traced her cheekbone with his knuckle. “If I was good, I’d have seen through the other women and noticed you a year ago.”
Where she’d worn a boring black skirt and always had her hair up. He’d commented she’d never had her hair down. She’d been so focused on doing a good job for him when she started and thought flirty would be absolutely inappropriate. Indispensable was a more secure a goal for her then. “Is that why you’re upset with yourself?”
He pulled her closer to him and she knew he was hard, everywhere. “It wasn’t just Francesca. I almost missed a treasure that was right under my nose.”
He rested his forehead on hers as her lips tingled for a kiss. “Well, that’s all forgivable. More than that. Sweet actually.”
He whispered, “Anna Camila, I don’t ever want to lose you.”
This was just the two of them. No one else mattered. She sighed, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Then you better take me to bed then.”
“As you wish.” He scooped her legs up, carrying her to the bedroom. Dinner could wait. She was with Leo and she loved him. Life was too good to let doubts in, not now, not ever.
