Page 35 of A Spinster's Guide to Landing a Lyon

“Oh my God, woman. I’m ruined.” His forehead rested against hers. “I’m going to need you again.”

A soft laughter shook her shoulders. “That’s a good thing to hear because I’m going to need you again. I think we make a good pair.”

“I can agree with that.” He lowered her slowly to the ground. “Should we go change now?”

“Just sit with me first.”

She led him over to the settee where she pushed him to sit down. Then she crawled on top of him and wrapped her arms around him.

“Tell me how you see this wedding going.”

“Lots of tulips and chocolate cake.”

He loved the feel of her laughter reverberating through him.

“You mean vanilla.”

“I’m thinking chocolate.”

She pulled to sit up straight, but he kept a tight grip on her hips.

“Oh. So now all of a sudden you have an opinion?”

“I’m more invested in this one.” And he knew that was the right thing to say because she kissed him.

Her lips were perfect. She was perfect. How had he ever thought he could resist her? Her and her indomitable spirit. Unyielding determination. And her striking beauty.

Yes. This time around it would be different. It would be perfect. He knew in his heart that he was meant for this. For her. And she was meant for him. Nothing could go wrong.

Chapter Twenty-One

“How did Iever resist you?” Benedict murmured against her neck, loving the soft silky feel of her skin.

“I’m sure it was just like every other man on the planet. Quite easy to do.”

He squeezed his arms around her waist. “Resisting you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I thought…I…well, I misjudged you. I thought you were going to be something else. That’s the only way I could resist. But once I started to see the real you, I knew I couldn’t hold out. I knew I would break.”

“I suppose I wasn’t much better. I also misjudged you. The first time I saw you, despite thinking immediately that you were handsome, I was searching for a flaw. I thought you were rude and arrogant.”

“I do come across that way.”’

“Especially when you dismiss a man without speaking to him.”

“What?”

“At the Lyon’s Den. I watched various men approach you, but you wouldn’t give them the time of day.”

“Those men were not worth my time.” He took a deep sigh and raked his hand through his hair. “In fact, they were—”

The loud and unexpected sound of horses outside pulled Amelia off of his lap. Together they walked toward the window to see Arabella standing up looking at a man on horseback riding like the wind.

Promptly forgetting their current conversation, Benedict listened as Amelia pondered aloud, “That’s not my father…nor would it be. He’s not returning for a few days.”

The man looked awfully familiar. Almost like—

Benedict rushed out the door. What the hell was he doing here? It couldn’t be.

The loud rustling of Amelia’s crumpled skirts told him that she wasn’t far behind him.