“I cannot believe you just asked me that.”
A moment stamped by the least insightful response Wolfstan had ever heard. “It’s a simple question, Rebecca.”
“It’s anything but a simple question.”
And yet the answer means everything.
“Yes or no. Simple.”
Her brows puckered. “What’s gotten into you today? You seemed . . . off before. Is Langley planning on courting me?” Her face paled. “Is that why you have been asking about him?”
“No, Christ.” He dragged his hand over his jaw. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Her eyes went wide. “Are you against a match between your cousin and me? Is that why you seem so troubled?”
“Dammit, that is not what I meant.” He tugged at his cravat again before he squared his shoulders. “Tell me this, Rebecca: have you engaged in more than a string of sentences with my cousin?”
“What sort of question is that?”
Hell and damnation! It was impossible to dismiss the note of pain in the catch of her voice.
Wind whistled in the distance.
“I’m merely curious. Have you spent more than an hour in my cousin’s company at a time? Has he ever shown you any favor?”
Something moved in the depth of her gaze. Something that made Wolfstan uncomfortable. Panic stirred.
“What are you getting at, Wolfstan?”
Another non-answer for a question Rebecca would never grasp the importance of.Make her understand. Because this was his chance. His moment. Perhaps his only one.
“What if I wished to make a declaration?” Wolfstan asked, heart beating in his throat.
“Declaration?” Her brows furrowed. “What sort of declaration?”
“The kind where I declare I will be the first man you ever kiss, Rebecca Flowerdy.”
She gasped. “You will not dare!”
“Why?” Wolfstan challenged, and before he could catch his next words, they tumbled out in a rushed breath, “I have wanted to kiss you since forever.”
***
WORDS CHOKED IN THEback of Rebecca’s throat.
Her heart wrenched at the emotion flashing in the depth of his soft amber eyes even as his face remained an untouched canvas. Half of the emotion she did not recognize. But she thought she caught a glimpse of uncertainty and relief before they were replaced by steadfast resolve.
Rebecca retreated one step.
Wolfstan had wanted to kiss her since forever? How could that be? He was Mason’s closest confidant. He was a brother to her. Only he wasn’t. Not anymore. For something else filled his eyes. Something decidedly not brotherly.
She blinked. The warmth and humor were still there, like always, but they were interwoven with a look she hadn’t before glimpsed in their depth. She had always felt safe beneath Wolfstan’s regard, but for some reason, him looking at her like that, made her want to flee the room.
A wolf that had finally cornered his prey.
“Do not come any closer.” She held out her arms when he advanced toward her.
“What if I do not want to distance myself any longer?”
