The Runner's Enticement (Men of Circumstance Book 2)

by Addie Jo Ryleigh

  By time Nate pulled the glass back, she was able to move her throat enough to speak. “How . . . what . . .?”

  Thankfully her father, who she could now see clearly, saved her from struggling to form words. “Shhh. Save your strength. Nathaniel will explain what you missed the last four days while I summon the doctor.”

  Nathaniel? Four days? Doctor?

  Endless questions circling her head effectively shoved aside the foggy mist. Faster than she’d seen him move in years, her father placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before quitting the room. Leaving her alone with the man at her side, who’d reclaimed her hand after abandoning the water glass to the bedside table.

  Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, Anna gingerly focused her attention on Nate. Unsmiling lips instead of his usual charming grin. Shadowy worry in the deep blue depths of his eyes with their sudden lack of determination and sometimes-teasing glint.

  He spoke before she could question the change. “Do you need anything? More water? Are you in pain?” He shook his head. “Of course you are in pain. You were shot only days ago.”

  Shot?

  Then it all came rushing back.

  The folly.

  Mr. Rollins.

  The Viper.

  The gun.

  The harrowing fear she’d never see Nate again. And the final detail . . . her decision to prevent that from happening. No matter the cost.

  The worse-than-bad feeling flashed from her shoulder down her arm. She’d been shot. Spent the last four days in bed. Who knew being shot could hurt so much?

  “I for one,” Nate chuckled, and she realized she’d croaked the question aloud.

  She vividly recalled the scar from his wound that hadn’t come close to marring his beautifully sculptured body.

  His smile vanished. “What the hell were you thinking? You scared the life out of me. You could have been killed.” His blue eyes blazed hot. “Promise to never do that again.”

  “Never get shot again? I promise.”

  The grin she would never get enough of returned. “Not exactly what I meant but I’ll take it.”

  He seemed hale enough, yet she had to ask, “Were you hurt?”

  The sensation of his thumb massaging the back of her hand had her struggling to focus on his answer. “Physically, no. But, I swear my heart stopped beating when you lunged at Jarvis.” He closed his eyes briefly before that vivid blue locked on her once more. “I still don’t understand why you did it. You were safe. Foxmoore had you out of the folly and away from The Viper. Why risk your life?”

  If not for the screaming shoulder pain, she would have pulled him closer. Or knocked him upside the head in retaliation for questioning her decision. “I wasn’t thinking about myself. I couldn’t leave you alone with him. You weren’t even armed, Nate. He would have killed you.” As her voice grew in power, she heard herself yelling. And as the fear she’d felt that night returned, she ceased caring how loud she got. “You were going to let him kill you!”

  Tears pricked her eyes but before they fell, he shifted to the bed and curved his hand along her jaw, silencing her with his nearness. “Anna, it was never my intention to die. I wouldn’t have given up without a fight but I couldn’t have done so until you were safe. I couldn’t focus on my safety without ensuring yours first.”

  “But you were unarmed . . .” Her voice was softer, mesmerized by the warmth growing under his solid hand against her cooler skin.

  “Was I?” he asked with an undeniably charming tilt of his brow. “I’m not a novice. Just because you didn’t see a weapon doesn’t mean there wasn’t one in my possession.” His thumb brushed against her cheek. “I would have fought to my last breath to see you again.”

  The revelation sent her heart into an uncontrollable flutter. Somehow this very appealing and impossibly breathtaking man noticed her. She no longer stood alone on the side of the room as the world danced by. Even if her solitary status had been by choice, didn’t mean it hadn’t been lonely at times.

  Not only did she have his attention, he had hers. He stirred more than just parts of her body. He excited her mind. Though at times such excitement blended with his inflexible stubbornness, she would take it.

  Where that left them, she didn’t know. Was their mutual desire to protect the other at any cost enough on which to build a future? Did he even want a future with her? Had he forgiven her for her deceit?

  Nate still cupped her cheek. “What are you thinking, love? I can see your mind working.”

  She swallowed her fears and asked, “Where do we go from here?”

  He released her gently but didn’t vacate the bed. “Hopefully the doctor will deem you on the mend and in a few days, you will be on your feet. Being shot will be a distant memory.”

  Not exactly what she’d been asking, but knowing there would be no lasting effects from her injury was welcome news.

  Something other than Nate and their mutual feelings weighed on her mind. “Does Papa know about Mr. Rollins and his connection to the artifacts?”

  A faint shake of his head shifted the strands of hair falling over his forehead. “No. And he never will. As far as your father, and outside those who need to know, Rollins was an associate of The Viper’s. Since Foxmoore and my men were able to discover where Rollins lived, and reclaimed all the missing items, no one will ever know otherwise.”

  She studied him in silence. When Nate had first appeared, she’d agonized he would be the one to expose her treachery to her father. Instead, he’d protected and ultimately rescued her. His actions confused her, especially recognizing she had penance to pay for her role in these unfortunate events.

  A pawn of Mr. Rollins she might have been, still she vowed to atone for the last few months.

  Knowing she wouldn’t have the opportunity without Nate’s sacrifices, she whispered a soft, “Thank you.”

  “You are more than welcome. I know what the school means to you. If anyone understands honoring their mother, it is me.”

  “But I failed. Despite all the dealings with Mr. Rollins, I was unable to successfully implement necessary changes. It is only a matter of time before the school will need to close.”

  A gentle smirk lifted his lips, reminding her of all the other wonderful things he could do with his mouth. “Not necessarily. While you were asleep, Foxmoore and I discussed the school. He believes, after a few adjustments, you could continue your pledge to help all young ladies, regardless of their station, and keep the school running. He wants to make a donation to the school.”

  Now she was speechless. Would the wonderful and unbelievable things this man brought into her life ever cease?

  She was saved from having to coax words past her lips when he leaned in. Instead of forming words, her lips were moving under his in a kiss.

  Too short of a time later, he eased away. “I’ve wanted to do that for days.”

  “What took you so long?”

  “I don’t normally take advantage of unconscious women but if I’d have known you’d been open to the possibility, I wouldn’t have held back.”

  They were both laughing, hers restrained since it only increased the sharp ache in her shoulder, when her father returned. At the intrusion, Nate rose from the bed as disappointment pricked her.

  “The doctor is on the way. How are you feeling?”

  Still saddened by all she’d put her dear father through, tears brimmed her eyes at the love and concern shining from his face. How could she have betrayed him in such a way? She again vowed to make amends.

  “A little sore but I don’t think it is anything serious.”

  “You scared me, Annabel, dear. Don’t ever think about doing that again.” If possible, her father looked older than he had four days ago.

  “Never again. I promise, Papa.�
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  The tension in him seemed to ease. “Has everything been resolved here?”

  Nate answered hastily, “Not exactly.”

  “It will be some time before the doctor arrives. I will give you a moment to settle matters.”

  Since he appeared to be speaking to Nate with keen purpose, Anna kept silent as her father retreated. Instead she turned her attention to the quiet man who had his eyes pinned on the door her father closed behind him.

  “Why do I feel something else is going on? Am I dying?” She didn’t think it a possibility, even with the worse-than-bad feeling causing her to catch her breath every so often. She’d merely wanted to gain his attention.

  His eyes focused on her. “Not amusing, Anna.”

  With him standing above her, she was able to study every familiar line of his face. He was still the same appealing man who’d managed to wiggle his way past her defenses—even when she hadn’t liked him very much. The scruff running over his lower cheeks and jaw seemed fuller and longer today, as if he hadn’t taken the time to attend to shaving. It only made her want to rub her fingers against the roughness.

  His eyes held the most change from a few minutes ago. Instead of the carefree, charming spark or determined glint piercing the tranquil blue, their clearness had shadowed. Whatever her father alluded to, it unsettled Nate.

  “If I’m not dying, why the seriousness?”

  He dropped into the chair by the bed, scraping a hand along the faint start of beard she’d been eyeing dreamily. “If you haven’t noticed, your father has been leaving you alone with me rather easily.”

  “I did notice.” Since it fell in her favor, she had chosen not to question it.

  “Well, it isn’t because he is an understanding man.” Nate hesitated before continuing. “He extracted a promise from me. One he is more confident about than I am.”

  Now she was worried.

  Nate clasped her hand between his. The strength she felt there lessened her concern. “This probably isn’t the best time but, unless I want to be banished from your room—and probably the house, it is the only time.” His eyes remained clouded but she swore a touch of pleading hid behind his anxiety. “There is something I haven’t told you.”

  Her concern returned and she knew it showed on her face when he chuckled. “It isn’t bad, or at least I hope you don’t think so.”

  Anna found little comfort in his words. Where’d the confident Runner—who’d eluded her attempts to outsmart him—disappear to?

  “Just tell me. I’m starting to think not knowing is worse.” Or so she hoped.

  “I love you.”

  Had he truly blurted a declaration of love, or had her dizziness returned, causing her to mishear?

  Only one way to find out. “Can you repeat that?”

  The grin appearing on his lips failed to ease the tension etched in the lines of his face. “I love you, Anna.”

  Oh, lord! He had.

  As he waited for her reaction with obvious nervousness, she struggled with her response. Despite her loving him desperately. Despite dreaming of hearing those three words fall from his lips. Despite her sharing her body with him. She’d never thought a man as beautiful, as solid and sure of life as Nate, would love someone like her, a bluestocking with a passably average appearance.

  When she didn’t answer, he let her hand slip from his. “Well . . . that about says it all.” The hollowness of his words bit at her heart and churned at her stomach.

  He rushed on before she could stop him. “I should have listened to myself. Instead I allowed others to tell me differently. I knew I wouldn’t be enough. Hell, I know I’m not enough. You are too beautiful, too wonderful, to want to spend your life with a lowly, bastard Runner.”

  The bitterness in his voice sliced into her and she couldn’t allow another untruthful word spew from his lips. Instead, she ignored the pain holding her to the bed and with her good arm, grabbed his hand and tugged him closer.

  “Don’t ever talk about yourself like that again. Do you understand? You are more of a person, more of a man, than any of the nobility walking about with a useless title attached to their name. Not only are you enough, you are more than I’ve ever dreamt of having. I love you, Nathaniel Frederickson.” She held his eyes with hers. “Do you hear me? I love you.”

  As she clung to his hand, willing him to feel everything bursting from her heart, the haze drifted from his eyes and she once again faced the captivating flicker that curled her toes.

  “No need to shout. I’m sitting right here.”

  She growled at his teasing and yanked hard, until he fell over her with his weight braced on his arms, bracketing her head.

  His lips mere inches from hers, she watched them move; forming words. “Will you marry me, love?” She glanced from his mouth to his eyes, needing to see what he felt. “The possibility you might is the only reason your father allowed me to be here. He seems to think you’ll be willing. After your very vocal announcement, I’m hopeful yet not entirely convinced.”

  Since her eyes were locked on him, she saw he was more than just hopeful. Poised above her hovered a very confident man. Rightfully so, given every drop of love she felt for him must be written clearly on her face. Just as plainly as she could read his love for her.

  “Since I wouldn’t want Papa to throw you out on your ear, I had better say yes.”

  He smiled and started to lower his head.

  The moment his lips met hers, she would lose all ability to think. Quickly, Anna pulled back a bit. “After all you’ve mentioned about your father, I have an idea of where you developed your inaccurate perception of yourself, but I want to make something very clear. I would be more than honored to have you as my husband. Not because of my father. Not because you’ve essentially ruined me for any other man. Because of who you are. You make me happy. You challenge me—even when I don’t want to be challenged. You make me better because you are better.”

  Now she wanted to kiss him. He had other ideas. “I should have known the day you walked into your father’s parlor I hadn’t a chance against you. As much as I wanted to believe you were nothing more than a spoiled society princess, something pulled me to you.”

  His eyes steady on hers, her breath hitched as his strong finger slowly caressed down the side of her face, before his husky voice carried on. “At the time it probably had more to do with the alluring fire hidden in your hair and the very tempting curves that begged my hands to caress them, but before long it was just you.”

  His finger came to rest on the dip below her neck, sending tingles through her body. His hypnotic words continued to pull her under. “The way you were with the students. Your patience and how you placed them and the school before yourself. It didn’t take long to see your beauty outside was a reflection of your beauty inside.”

  She had never heard anything so breathtaking before. Especially directed at her. She gave him the only answer she had left. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” he echoed before he put her out of her misery and kissed her the way she’d been craving.

  Epilogue

  As Nate scanned the room and the people in it, he realized he’d finally found where he belonged. And it just so happened to include one of those useless titles Anna had spoken of.

  Apparently, he’d done England a great service by ending the terror led by The Viper. In return, Nate had been awarded the title of baron. Which came with a good-sized estate that was more than he had ever thought to possess. He suspected Lawson had something to do with the honor he’d been given but his friend had yet to admit it.

  No one knew Gabe had actually pulled the trigger and ended The Viper’s reign. Nate would have offered the information had Gabe not forbade it. Since his brother had saved his life, keeping silent was the least he could do.


  Nate’s gaze continued on before settling on the auburn head of hair that still had the power to fascinate him with the delicate streaks of fire somehow contained in the muted strands. Seeing as in a matter of days, he would be given the right to study her hidden allure for the rest of his life, he was able to move his regard from the stimulating sight of his future wife.

  Not only had he found a place to call his own, he’d found the one person who’d shown him his true value. Surprisingly it wasn’t the bastard son of a duke.

  “Did you ever think this would be our lives?” Gabe asked as he stepped beside Nate.

  Keeping his eyes on Anna, he answered, “Never. Mostly because I never thought you’d pull your head out of your arse and admit you were in love with Elizabeth.”

  His brother’s warm laughter blanketed the guests’ voices. “Here I thought it was because I never envisioned you setting aside your charm and focusing on one woman.”

  It was Nate’s turn to laugh. “Oh, believe me, I have no intention of setting anything aside. I’m just choosing to unleash it on one very specific woman.”

  The men fell silent for a moment before Gabe spoke. “You know you deserve all of this, don’t you?”

  A few short months ago Nate wouldn’t have believed him. Actually, he would have laughed aloud. Now, he wouldn’t take any of it for granted. Not the group of people who’d joined Gabe and had become Nate’s family. Not the home he stood in, earned by being the best at what he did. And sure as hell not the woman who just turned her eyes to him and tempted him with a smile that had him longing for his wedding—or more specifically, wedding night.

  “Let’s hope I can do it justice,” he finally replied.