Wise Folly by Rita Clay

and her child washed over her tired body every day. But with Noah in her life, she was shocked that she was aw akening the same feelings of desire she had always felt his presence. Truth be told, she always felt tie d to him in his presence . It was the need to be held and sheltered , even for a little while. His body protect ed her from all the fighting she 'd had to do to scrape her way through life, just to make bills and feed her baby in the unloving world.
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Noah watched emotions flit across her face and h is gaze glittered and darkened dangerously as he read the silent plea in hers.
    With a heav y sigh, h is arms encircled her waist , pulling her closer to his own body. I nstead of lowering his mouth to claim hers, he pressed her head against the wall of his chest, cradling her like a baby. The unexpected tenderness took Dianna by surprise . U nbidden tears turned in to sobs as all the lost causes of yesterday were washed away by the promises of tomorrow. Noah held her protectively , urging her to cry away the bitterness . Everything had changed. The old way of life was gone and she could no longer cope with the new one. She was in limbo and he was her rock now just as he had been in the past
    T he thought was sobering and she tried to push herself out of his arms, catching her breath on a sob. ‘Tm sorry,” she mumbled dejectedly. “I don’t know what’s come over me.” Her hands on his chest were stilled by his.
    “Look at me, Dianna,” he ordered softly, forcing her gaze up. “Do I scare you so much?’
    “Yes,” she answered huskily. Honestly.
    “Why? Because of what happened in the past?’
    ‘Yes.” Her voice was so low he could hardly hear it, but the pain on her face could not be denied
    “We Westons have a lot to answer for,” he muttered reluctantly letting her go to run a hand through his thick dark hair, ruffling it boyishly. “Would you feel better if I said our relationship would never go any further than you wanted?”
    Dianna stared up at him. “And if I ask that it goes no further than it is now?”
    He sighed . “Then it doesn’t . But I do expect you to be reasonable in your demands . ”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “For all intents and purposes this marriage will look normal. Our relatives, Tabby, business associates, are all to believe this marriage is a love match.” His flint-gray eyes locked with hers. “That may mean hand holding and kisses in public, but until you say otherwise, we’ll do nothing more than that in private.”
    “And if I never say otherwise?” she persisted, trying to believe him yet plainly confused.
    “Would you like it in writing?”
    Dianna shook her head. “No. I just don’t understand how a marriage of this kind and in this day and age could hold any appeal for you.” She turned back toward the large window, unwilling to have him read her expression. “If you really want to marry for your own pleasure, why choose me? Why not marry Catherine?”
    Her questions were so artless, so childlike in contrast to her usually cool exterior that he laughed. The warmth of the sound sent shivers down her spine . "You could help with Tabby with or without marriage."
    He turned her around to face him, not allowing her to hide during their emotional upheaval.  “ Because, I don't love Catherine Sinclair." He smiled. "H ave you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You’re beautiful . And you’re a breath of fresh air. As far as physical pleasure goes—I’m willing to gamble that , with time, you’ll want me as much as I wan t you. You did once, so there's a chance you might feel that way again. I'm willing to take that chance."
    The gleam h e'd held earlier was back and once again it brought a restriction in her breast and a deep spiraling warmth to her limbs, it wasn’t an altogether unpleasant feeling and the realization disturbed her. He rele ased her from his embrace, leaving her strangely chilled. “We don’t have