Again Sunny was left staring at an empty doorway.
He was bluffing. Wasn’t he?
He hadn’t been teasing about the bet with George. He had said he would get her into his bed by the night of the wedding and he had done it.
The idea of marriage was preposterous. Wasn’t it?
She loved him. Wouldn’t she rather have a life with him in Latham Green than one of loneliness in the city?
No, nothing could change her mind about leaving. Nothing?
This time she would be running from the man she truly loved. From the man who truly—
She poked his bare shoulder. It was infuriating that he had actually gone back to bed and was peacefully sleeping. After the second rough punch to his shoulder, he rolled to his back and blearily looked up at her.
“Are you still here?”
“You never said anything about loving me.”
“Is it necessary that I tell you?” He came up on one elbow.
“Well, it would be nice.”
He laughed at her testiness. “Sunny, if I hadn’t been falling in love, I would have taken you to bed the first day I met you. I would have followed you home from that party and had carnal knowledge of you then and there, gotten you out of my system.
“And—” he said, pointing a warning finger at her open mouth that dared her to interrupt him, “don’t deny that it would have happened. From the first time
we looked at each other, it was only a matter of time until we satisfied our attacks of mutual lust. I waited until last night because I was hoping to win your trust, too. I wanted you to know that it wasn’t any longer just sex for me.”
“Then you meant what you said about liking and admiring the woman I am?”
“Absolutely.”
She gnawed on her lower lip. “I don’t want more than two children.”
He stacked his hands behind his head. “Sounds reasonable, since you’re the one who has to have them. You’re not too old, are you?”
“Thirty my next birthday,” she replied tetchily.
“Thirty, huh? Well, I guess that’s okay.”
Her temper went into slow simmer. “I won’t go dowdy, either. I refuse to change the way I dress to fit the nonfashion trends in this town.”
“Good. I like the way you dress.” His gaze moved down her body. “And undress.”
She resisted his melting look, but it wasn’t easy. She felt a familiar weakness in her knees. “I’ll have to go into New Orleans frequently.”
“I understand.”
“I don’t intend to give up my work.”
“I wouldn’t think of asking you to.”
“I plan to apply at every bank in Louisiana and Mississippi until I get a loan.”
“You won’t have to. I have some money set aside.”
That shut her up for a moment, then she said, “I won’t use your money to start my business.”