The Lass Who Kissed a Frog, Lee, Caroline [i have read the book a hundred times .txt] 📗

to his knees and holding the wooden box in both hands. “Open it,” he commanded, and without really thinking about it, she did.

Gold winked up at her.

With shaking hands, she brushed her fingertips over the curved, carved surface of the sphere tucked into its protective hay bedding. “Is this what I think it is?”

“It’s the sphaera from Fangfoss Manor’s excavation, love. The day after we returned, I bought another ticket to York, and I called upon the Earl of Fangfoss and his wife—whom, it turns out, was actually the owner of the old finishing school my sister went to, the ex-Miss Julia Twittingham.” His lips curled self-deprecatingly. “But anyhow, I explained I was a collector and had heard a golden sphaera had been found. They cared nothing for the artifacts—yer great-aunt, his mother, had been the one interested in such things—and were pleased to allow me access to the collection. I offered a fair price for the sphaera, and they accepted.”

She was smiling rather sadly as she closed the lid and took the box from his hands. “Ye didnae have to do that, Roland.”

“Aye, I did. I had to find a way to apologize to ye, and to show ye how much I cared for ye. I love ye, Vanessa Oliphant. No’ because of yer beauty, but because of yer heart.”

“And I love ye,” she whispered. “But…are ye certain ye wish to give me such a valuable gift?”

“The sphaera?” he scoffed. “Its worth is nothing compared to yer love and admiration, Vanessa. Please accept it. Ye must give it to Bonnie, who can sell it to Phin—he’s already promised ye ten times its worth, and I’ll ensure he stands by that promise—and buy her publishing house.”

Vanessa settled the box on the little table beside her chair. “Ye would do that for Bonnie?”

“I would do that for ye.” He took her hands in his, his hazel eyes intent as they darted between hers. “I love ye, and this was yer goal; to enable yer sister to buy her publishing house. Thus, it’s become my goal as well. Please let me help ye, Vanessa.”

He really was the most wonderful man, wasn’t he?

Vanessa pursed her lips, pretending to consider his plea. “And this has nothing to do with our bargain?”

“Bargain?” His knees must be getting tired, considering they were bare against the floor, but he cocked his head to one side, his attention completely on her. “What do ye mean?”

She darted a glance at the wooden box beside her, her lips curling impishly. “Ye made me a bargain, remember? If ye helped me reach my goal, I’d grant ye a kiss. Is that why ye brought me the sphaera?”

He was grinning charmingly. “Did it work?”

Helping her sister had become her goal, and Roland had made it happen. But at that moment, the sphaera wasn’t what interested her. All she knew was he loved her as she loved him, and he was oh-so-close to her.

So she surged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pressing her lips to his. He made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a groan, then he was dragging them both to their feet, his arms wrapping around her back, pressing her closer.

And his lips…? His lips were as perfect as she remembered. Nay, more so! Because this kiss involved caresses and moans, and the way his tongue teased hers had her grinding her pelvis against him, desperate for the pressure and the release he offered. His hands skimmed everywhere, from the exposed skin of her throat—which made her shiver—to her breast behind what she was now realizing was an infuriatingly buttoned-up bodice.

This kiss proved what she wanted in her forever.

“Vanessa,” he growled against her skin, as his lips trailed along her jaw to the sensitive spot behind her ear, “I’ve wanted to do this since I first held ye in my arms.”

“Aye!” she gasped, arching her back and neck so he had better access. “Aye, Roland! Oh, please, my love!”

He chuckled, before swiping his tongue across her already-primed skin, causing her to shudder.

“Soon, love. Soon. We’re going to be together—”

Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the sound of a clearing throat. Breathing heavily, he clasped his arms tightly around her and spun them both toward the door where Bonnie stood, holding a laden tea tray. Vaguely, while trying to remember how to get her legs to support her, Vanessa noted her sister was blushing and looking everywhere except at the embracing couple.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” Bonnie muttered, glancing over her shoulder, “but Mother has walked past the parlor door four times since I’ve been watching, and I had to sneak in. If I’d kenned ye were so…occupied, I wouldnae— Well, I suppose ye wouldnae be so occupied at all, had I stayed.”

Breathlessly, Vanessa tried to set her coiffure and gown to rights, although she suspected it wasn’t much use. “I for one appreciate ye leaving so we could be occupied.”

“Aye, verra occupied,” drawled Roland, snagging her hands in his. “And stop fussing. Ye look fine.”

Fine.

Slowly, Vanessa raised her gaze to his. Fine. Her whole life, she’d been more than fine—she’d been beautiful, gorgeous, stunning—but thanks to this man, she was realizing being fine was good enough. Because her worth wasn’t based on her appearance at all, was it?

From the way he was smiling at her, he understood her thoughts and approved of them.

“Congratulate us, Bonnie,” he called, without dropping his gaze from Vanessa’s. “Yer sister has agreed to marry me.” He dropped his voice. “Ye will, love, will ye no’? Marry me, but no’ the kind of marriage we thought we might have when we first met.” One based on beauty and charm. “Nay, I want a marriage where we’re equals, and we understand our strengths, and aye, we’re going to have to host parties and events, but we’ll do so together, each supporting the other. And we’ll use our influence to help those around us who need it.”

She smiled up at him. “I’d