Pretty Poison (31 page)

“You’ve no intention of marrying me now,” she exclaimed, all the color draining from her face but for two blotchy spots of flaming pink on her cheeks. “You promised to love me no matter what secrets I revealed!”

Nick jumped to his feet.

“You low down lying…” she sputtered, clearly unable to think of a word horrible enough to fit.

Nick advanced on her, the humor he’d been unable to find moments before now rolling over him until it was all he could do not to laugh in her face.

“Fortune Hunter,” she shouted, batting at the hands he held out to her.

“Emily.” Laughter laced the word.

“Tis funny is it?” Emily demanded, her hands going to her hips. “To promise one thing and hold to another when things get a might jiggy?

“Jiggy?” He thrust his hands onto his hips in imitation of her warrior stance. Lord, she was a sight, her hair blowing around her in a fiery cloud, her emerald eyes shooting daggers, and her breasts downright jiggy as she sucked air into her lungs.

“To be sure I never wanted to marry you anyway!”

On a giant whoop of laughter Nick crossed the distance that separated them and wrapped his arms around her. Emily jumped at the sudden move, stumbled and would have fallen had he not tightened his grasp. One hand in the middle of her back, the other firm on the swell of her bottom, he bent her backward, until he loomed over her, his laughing breath setting the curls on her forehead to dancing. “Oh you’ll marry me. Make no mistake, Emily Ann Calvert. You’ll marry me.”

“Maybe I will and maybe I won’t,” she drawled with a soft smile, all of her earlier anger and temper falling away.

“About this morning,” he began, wanting no more secrets between them, no doubt to linger in her mind.

“I saw Veronica in the hall outside your chamber.” Emily’s fingers skimmed along his jaw. “She was crying.”

“Crying?” he repeated in surprise.

“I know you did not make love to her, Nicholas.” The quiet conviction, the absolute faith he heard in her words both stunned and warmed him.

“Emily,” he whispered before leaning down to capture her lips in a gentle kiss filled with all the love, all the devotion he felt for her.

“I love you, Nicholas Avery,” she whispered against his lips

Nick lifted his head, met her bright eyes. “I haven’t words to tell you how I love you, Emily. I will always love you. You and only you.”

“And you still wish to marry me?”

“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” he pledged quietly.

“Even knowing all that I bring with me?” she persisted softly. “The cravings, the temper?”

Nick nodded emphatically before grinning down at her. “I want it all, the cravings, the temper, the fiery red hair and bright green eyes, and the passion and bossiness that go with them. And let’s not forget your treasure trove of useless knowledge.”

“Oh, Nicholas,” she replied on a wobbly laugh.

“You’ll marry me.” He kissed her softly, gently, reverently and whispered against her lips, “And when…
if
the cravings for your pretty poison ever come upon you, you’ll come to me and I’ll give you the blessed oblivion you seek.”

“Always,” she promised, her lips drifting over his.

“Always.”

About Lynne Barron

Lynne Barron always wanted to be a writer, if only she could decide what to write. Everyone told her write about what you know. It wasn’t until she married her wonderfully romantic husband that she was able to follow that advice. Lynne lives in Florida with her husband, son and a menagerie of rescued pets.

Lynne enjoys hearing from her readers, please feel free to contact her at
[email protected]
or on her website
http://www.lynnebarron.com

Also by Lynne Barron

Idyllwild 1: Portrait of Passion

Idyllwild 2: Widow’s Wicked Wish

Idyllwild 3: Unraveling the Earl

Pretty
Poison

ISBN 978-0-9863663-0-7

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Pretty Poison Copyright © 2015 Lynne Barron

Edited by Whitney Mihalik

Cover design by Dar Alber, Wicked Smart Designs

Electronic book publication February 2015

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are creations of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means without written permission from Lynne Barron

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal and punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. http://www.fbi.gov/ipr