Ch 23: There’s no doubt

"There's no doubt." he said pausing for a moment and dropping his gaze to her mouth, "But as I said, you're quite vulnerable right now and I don't want some man waltzing in your life and giving you empty promises.

Hell, you'll probably be like this for the rest of your life, and I'll be worried about you all the time."

He took her hands with his, "I don't mean to sound condescending, I'm just trying to convince you why it's a good match.

You wouldn't have to worry about money and we'd have Alice." Pull the Alice card. Lord, besides Alice needing her, he made her sound like an invalid that couldn't do anything for herself.

Again she couldn't help think it was pity and a debt he seemed to think he owed her dead cousin despite his protests.

Maybe she was fragile right now, and maybe she was too damn foolish about men, but that wasn't a reason at all.

As for the money, she'd make do, she always did. She lifted her chin and tried to hold her gaze to his without bursting in tears. "Anything else?" She didn't mean for her voice to crack, but it did.

"Oh Lord," he swore breaking that controlled demeanor he was famous for, and he looked concerned again, "I did it again, didn't I?"

"If you call telling me that I'm some naïve, poor, emotionally distraught woman, an insult? Yes, I would agree."

She added feeling another tear slip down her cheek almost to prove his point. At that moment while feeling the streak of wetness, maybe he wasn't too far off and he could see something in her that she couldn't.

After all, he was extremely observant at seeing things others couldn't and she was naïve, but she never considered herself vulnerable except where he was concerned.

He looked away for a bit before focusing on her again, "I'm sorry. It wasn't meant that way. Maybe I'm fishing for reasons why you should marry me.

Honestly, Abigail, I'm not so stupid around your sex, but for some reason, I always seem to fumble for words around you. Here sit down." He pulled a chair out for her and guided her into it.

Then he crouched in front of her and reached up to brush the tear off her cheek while searching her eyes with his, "Would it help if I told you I was attracted to you?"

It was a lie to make me feel better, she thought, but just the same, it worked and that tenderness that she had glimpsed over the past few days was back if only for a moment. Still, she couldn't help think that he was attracted to women, all women.

"A bit." She said honestly. He smiled and squeezed her hand as his eyes met hers, "Even though you were quite upset last night, I enjoyed sharing that bed with you."

He added with some hesitation. She tilted her head at him searching his eyes as something suddenly dawned on her.