Be My Bride by Regina Scott Page A

his new clothes powdered with dust and thoroughly rumpled, he was looking rather handsome. She’d never realized in fact how handsome he really was. His jaw was firm, his profile strong, shoulders were impressive, and his legs long and powerful. The strength of her possessive feelings surprised her, and she had to look away with a blush that rivaled the color of the blooms in her arms. “Yes, well, I’ve finished with the roses for the day, and I thought it must be time for tea.”
    “Well,” Daniel said with a grin, “if you really want tea, you’ll have to come fetch us.” He tapped her gently on the arm. “You’ve been touched.”
    She blinked, and Daniel pelted off into the maze, his husky laughter floating behind him.
    “Daniel, this is ridiculous,” she called, peering into the bushes in first one direction and then the other. Really, couldn’t the man be serious? The path stretched empty in all directions. “Boys, come out immediately.”
    “Boys,” Daniel’s voice countered from somewhere on her right. “You will do nothing of the kind until your mother touches one of us.”
    Somewhere to her left someone giggled. Adam, she thought, eyes narrowing. “Very well, then, have it your way.” She set the basket on one of the stone benches that dotted the maze and tiptoed toward the sound. Carefully she peered over the top of the bushes. There was no one there. Frustrated, she sank back onto her feet.
    “Nah nah nah,” John teased from her right. She whipped about in time to see him disappearing around a turn in the maze. She lifted her skirts and dashed after him.
    For the next few minutes it was pure anarchy in the maze. Children raced around corners and dove into bushes. Daniel actually leapt over one of the lower hedges to avoid her touch. Determined, she pursued him deeper into the maze, his laughter always just ahead of her. Adam escaped by crawling under a stone bench. James ran away so quickly he lost a shoe, and she only paused long enough to scoop it up and slip it in the pocket of her gown. John had the uncanny knack of letting her get within a finger’s breadth before sprinting past her and disappearing again. Her hair came undone from its pins, she trod on the flounce of her gown, and she had never had such a wonderful time in all her life.
    She was about to get the jump on John at last when she caught sight of Daniel heading for the center of the maze. Letting her son escape, she edged along the hedge and peered around the corner. Facing away from her, Daniel was bent over the stone bench at the center of the maze to catch his breath, one foot up on the bench. She tiptoed up behind him and placed both hands on his broad back. “I have you!” she shrieked triumphantly.
    Daniel grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his embrace. She was so surprised that she could only gasp out an “oh” and with her mouth in such a perfect position, he kissed her.
    It was a quick peck, nothing more. But it caused the strangest sensations in her stomach, and all she could do was stare at him. He had the oddest expression on his own face, his gray eyes suddenly dark, and she had the distinct impression that his breathlessness had nothing to do with the game.
    “Cynthia,” he managed. “Say something, please.”
    She blinked. “Thank you?”
    He laughed shakily. “Thank you? Is that for the game or the kiss?”
    “Both?” She felt shy suddenly and dropped her gaze. The feel of his arms around her was wonderfully comforting, and she found she had no desire to move. What she did have a desire for, however, was another kiss, and the thought was enough to shock her into silence.
    Daniel had no idea how things had gotten to this pass. Here he stood with Cynthia in his arms in the middle of the garden of all places, the feel of her mouth under his still fresh in his mind. Fresh, it was overpowering. He found himself staring at those lips, warm, dusted with moisture like dew on the petals of a