Free Summer of the Moon Flower (The de Vargas Family) by Annie Seaton

good man.
    She shrugged. “Certainly, it is a lengthy
walk, but a pleasant evening. I would appreciate the company.”
    Dougal insisted on paying the cashier for
Sofia’s coffee and after a quick word with his young manservant, led her out
onto the street. Sofia shivered as the cold wind from the Alps met them.
Dougal’s warm fingers brushed her throat as he tucked her cloak more snugly
about her shoulders and she shivered again, but not from the cold this time.
    “If we walk close together, it will shield
the wind from you,” he said thoughtfully. “I am used to the cold. My castle is
cold and draughty and the wind blows from the sea in all directions.
    They walked soft-footed in the stillness of
the clear night and only her occasional direction to take a turn, here or
there, broke their companionable silence. It seemed to be no time at all before
they reached the Lindengasse and they stood together under the gas lamp
outside the door of her salon.
    Sofia gasped as a rhythmic clicking
surrounded them and looked over her shoulder waiting for the metallic grasp of
an automaton. Dougal pulled her close and his arms banded tight around her.
    “What is it? What’s wrong?”
    She grasped his shirt and burrowed into his
hard chest trying to control her shaking.
    “Can you see it? Where is it?” She was
barely able to get the words out as fear snaked up her spine. Lifting her head,
she peeked around his solid bulk. A piece of metal had come loose from the gas
lamp and the wind was blowing it against the lamppost. She drew a shaky breath
and let go of his shirt.
    His hold gentled and he reached up and
tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Why so timid?” he asked gently.
    Her heart was thudding in her chest and she
leaned into him once more. It was safe…and warm…and comforting. She could get
used to this very quickly.
    Dougal lowered his head into her hair and
breathed in the exotic fragrance. She was so small, he thought. Delicate
shoulders barely reached the middle of his chest, her waist beneath the flowing
cloak was tiny— he could almost have spanned it with his hands. Without giving
it more thought, he gathered her even closer and a soft sigh settled in the
air. She fitted against him so well, almost as though she had been tailor-made
to fit into his body. He inhaled the fragrance of her hair once more as he
stroked the tension from her shoulders. Guilt overcame him as he understood how
much the chase at the station must have frightened her. But despite her fragile
appearance, he knew she was brave and determined.
    Would she be so brave if she knew she
was beneath the watch of the Knights Templar?
    An overwhelming desire to protect her
consumed him and he vowed to himself he would protect her. Before he knew what
he was doing, his mouth lowered to hers and it took his breath away. Her soft
lips opened under his and her sweet breath mingled with his. His knees trembled
and his mind cleared of any thought apart from the delight of her lips. She
returned his kiss and the sensation ran through his blood.
    “Dougal,” she murmured his name against his
mouth as she lifted her hands to caress his neck.
    The soft gasp of his name brought him back
to reality and he pulled back and blinked to clear his head.
    Dear Lord, what was he doing?
    He was here to protect her, not molest her.
He could ill afford for her to get into his blood. Look how much one simple
kiss had distracted him. He had a mission to accomplish although he had no idea
what he was going to do about it.
    “I’m sorry, Sofia.” He lowered his hands and
put his arms by his side, away from temptation. Her wide green eyes looked up
at him and the flickering light from the lamplight reflected in the four small
brass studs in her delicate ear lobe.
    “Don’t be,” she replied softly. She turned
to the door and ran her hand in front of a square brass plate. A sharp snap was
followed by the slow opening of the door as the cogs freed the lock. She