by Lori Wick
"Oh, Brandon, no," Sunny said. "I was the reason?" "Yes. She believed I loved her, but not until your name was mentioned did she ever see even a fraction of the passion I had within
me."
Sunny frowned again, and Brandon, watching her face so closely,
questioned her.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"Nothing really. It's just that I only see and hear your passion."
Brandon's brows flew to his hairline on this statement, and Sunny, to her credit, did not blush.
"Oh, Hawk," she went on, using his nickname for the first time. "Do I really have to ask? Will you please kiss me the way you did on board ship?"
Brandon gave a great laugh of relief then, even as he reached for Sunny. In truth he had been afraid of moving too fast. She was such a lovely fit in his arms, and Brandon wanted to laugh all over again that she'd had to ask.
Sunny, on the other hand, couldn't laugh or even think at that moment. Her senses swam as Brandon's lips held her own. When she could talk again, her voice was so content that Brandon could only smile.
"I'm so glad we're going to be more than friends."
Brandon laughed at the direction of her thoughts. "Friends," he said, "lovers, husband and wife, and Lord willing, mother and father."
"Ummm," Sunny sighed contentedly, only to have Brandon kiss her again.
Outside the door, Wilson found Tildy listening, her head tilted to hear every sound.
"Afraid he's going to eat her alive?" Wilson teased the old woman, who sniffed indignantly.
"They're not married; I ought to go in."
"Well do, by all means, but give them a few moments. They've just come together. Something tells me that when Lady Sunny comes out, she'll finally be ready to eat."
"That's right," Tildy straightened quickly. "I best see that cook has a decent meal prepared for my lady."
Wilson stood and chuckled at how easily she had been distracted.
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His gaze swung to the closed door when he heard Sunny's light laugh. He wasn't worried about her being alone with Lord Brandon, because he was a man in love. And in Wilson's experience, there wasn't a more gentle creature in all the earth than a man in love.
November 1849
lady andrea stood at the window of her bedroom at Bracken and watched Brandon and Sunny below. The Duke and Duchess of Briscoe had been home from their honeymoon, a European tour, for about two months and had asked her to come for a visit.
Andrea had arrived some 40 minutes ago, only to be told that the lord and lady had gone for a walk. She didn't know what noise had made her move to the window, but as she watched her son's and daughter-in-law's antics, she was certainly glad she had.
Sunny was moving around the base of a tree, and Brandon was stalking her. Even with the window shut she heard Sunny's laugh and laughed herself. A moment later Sunny called something to her new husband; Brandon roared and charged.
Andrea watched as Brandon swung Sunny up into his arms in a swirl of petticoats. When his lips came down on hers, Andrea let the curtain fall back into place.
Twenty minutes later Andrea sat next to Sunny on the davenport and listened to her animated account of their honeymoon. Andrea had been to all the places they had visited, and Sunny was thrilled to have such a captive audience.
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From time to time Andrea's gaze would flicker to her son, who had said little during Sunny's monologue but was certainly enjoying himself. Brandon's eyes rarely left his lovely bride, and it was easy to see he found Sunny thoroughly captivating as her eyes sparkled with excitement and her soft laugh sounded in the room. The older woman watched with amusement when Sunny kicked her shoes off and tucked her feet beneath her.
When Andrea was able to get a word in, she informed them that Holly and Jordan were expecting. One would have thought the news was Sunny's own, so excited was she. Andrea and the newlyweds went on to speak of Miles' forthcoming marriage and the family's plans to be at Heather's for Foster's fortieth birthday party the next week.
Andrea's visit made Sunny feel ten years old all over again. In feet, she was still talking late that night when Brandon came into her room, dismissed her maid who had been brushing Sunny's hair, scooped Sunny up, and carried her to his own bed.
Minutes later Sunny sat before her husband on his huge bed and chattered as he brushed her thick chestnut curls.
"It's so lovely to have Andrea here. She's going to be a great-grandmother! Isn't that something? She doesn't look at all old. I can't wait to see Holly. Jordan must be thrilled. I hope she isn't feeling ill."
Sunny shifted so Brandon could better reach her hair and fell silent. Brandon, who had been enjoying Sunny's easy banter, wondered at her quiet.
"You've fallen awfully still," he said softly.
"I was just thinking about the past," she admitted.
"Want to share?"
Sunny gave a low laugh. "I was just thinking about the little 13-year-old girl who sat on theFlying Surprise,demanding a maid, while Captain Brandon Hawkesbury tried to brush her hair. I was so self-centered, wasn't I, Brandon?"
Sunny found herself hugged and hauled carefully backward to lay across Brandon's lap. His face was so dose to her own that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek when he spoke.
"No, you weren't."
"Oh, Hawk," Sunny spoke, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You were young and frightened, and you melted my heart the first time I laid eyes on you," Brandon responded, ignoring her doubt.
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ais that true?" Sunny loved his words.
"Yes, and even though my love has grown into something entirely different from what is was in those days, one thing has never changed: My heart still melts every time I look at you.**
"Oh, Hawk, I love you so," Sunny whispered as her hand at the back of his head brought his lips down to her own.
Rain had begun to fall against the windows of the master bedroom at Bracken, but the duke didn't hear the sound. Kyle had told him years ago that Sunny would lead some man on a merry chase. He'd also said that someday she would be a priceless jewel. Brandon knew that if he ever saw Kyle again, he would have to tell him he had been right on both counts.
