Free Far Beyond Scandalous by Bethany Sefchick Page B

her, especially given the time that they had been apart, and
the way she had treated him that evening at the museum.   In that moment, she lost another small part
of her heart to the man.   Not that he
didn't own almost all of it already, though she doubted he realized it.   "Why?"   Her voice was barely a whisper.   "Why would you risk that?   You have worked so hard for your position with Prinny!"
    Gibson knew it was time for more
honesty.   Amy deserved it.   She deserved so much more, really.   However, all he could offer her was the truth.
    "Because you are my friend,
Amy, and, perhaps a bit more.   Were
circumstances different, I would like to think so, anyway, especially after
what we shared."   He noted that she
blushed all over and couldn't help but remember the way her skin had flushed
the first time he had told her that he found her beautiful.   "That afternoon between us...   It changed so much, for me at
least."  
    This was the first time he had
spoken of that day since it had occurred.   It was right that he should speak of it with her.   Right that he told her, though he did not
deserve her nor could he offer her anything, he still cared.   Deeply.   He probably always would.
    Amy clenched her hands together
tightly, fighting the urge to reach for Gibson as was her instinct.   Did she truly dare believe that he still
cared for her?   "It did for me as
well."  
    In truth, she wanted to fling
herself into his arms at that moment and allow his strength to comfort
her.   However, time apart had made her
more than a little uncertain, not to mention that this was London.   The rules were different here. Worse, what
if he no longer felt as strongly as he had that magical day?   He intimated that he still felt the same,
but what if she was misreading things?   She could not bear that on top of the other tragedies that had already
occurred that evening.  
    Gibson's eyes were filled with
concern, and she saw the truth of his desire for her in their golden
depths.   "More than that, sweeting,
you need my help.   You are a female
alone in a man's world."   Her heart
soared at his use of the endearment.   "I will not abandon you.   My
conscience will not allow it.   Prinny
can fend off his indigestion by himself for a bit."  
    Then, he stroked a thumb over the
back of her hand.   He found that he
could not keep silent about the other part of his reasoning for wanting to
assist her.   Just like her mother's true
condition, she needed to know the truth if this plan was to work.   "And because I find that despite our
time apart and our vow to forget that afternoon, I cannot.   Nor do I want to.   I hope and pray that you feel the same, at least a little.   For me, whatever the tragedy that
precipitated it, I cannot be completely sorry for the gift of time with you
that I have been given."
    Amy smiled then, the first smile
that had graced her face since her mother had fallen ill.   It was inappropriate, but that did not stop
the warmth of feeling from blossoming deep inside of her chest.   He still cared.   Thank God.   "I
thought I was the only one who could not forget, who continued to wish that the
situation was different.   I thought that
you regretted that day."   It had
been her greatest fear.
    "No, sweeting, you were not
the only one.   And I regret nothing, at
least not where you are concerned.   Even
if we cannot repeat that day, I will never forget it, either.   It was the best day of my life."   Amy was silent for a moment, simply staring
at him as if she could not believe he had just bared part of his soul to her.
    Gibson wanted her to speak, to say
something.   To either accept or reject
his words.   Yet she did nothing, as if
the shock had rendered her frozen in place.   He could not bear it.
    So he did perhaps the worst thing
imaginable.   Or maybe the best.
    "God forgive me," he
mumbled as he pulled Amy to him and kissed her - the same way they had kissed
that