He means nothing to you any longer.
“And there is the tempting, mouthy vixen I left behind,” he said. “I was worried that she had vanished under the weight of responsibility you now shoulder, Olivia.”
What did he know of her responsibilities?
“None of us can stay as we were, my lord, and it would be unrealistic and childish to suggest otherwise.” Livvy tried to shuffle backwards as he moved closer. Damn, her words had sounded panicked and he knew it, the rogue. The smile still flirted around his mouth. “I would also ask that you not address me so familiarly and now call me Miss Langley, as we can no longer lay claim to being friends.”
That stopped him; he stood just an arm’s length from her, staring intently, his head tilted slightly to the side, as if trying to read her thoughts.
“We will always be friends, Olivia, and you will always be Livvy to me, even if I am no longer Will to you.”
“Friends do not abandon friends,” Olivia whispered, and then could have cut out her tongue. She hadn’t spoken without thought in years, in fact since this man had left England, and now she had told him how much his departure had affected her. “Not that I cared. It was just impolite of you,” she added, cringing inside at how silly her words sounded.
He closed the distance between them until his chest blocked her view of the forest.
“I’m sorry that I was not here for you when your parents passed away, Olivia, and I will say again that I’m sorry if my departure hurt you, but at the time I believed the only option open for me was to go. I was angry and confused, and did not think much about the impact my departure would have on those I left behind.”
“You did not hurt me, my lord. I was seventeen and, therefore, quite happy to move on to the next source of amusement.”
Livvy stepped backwards but her escape was thwarted by two large hands cupping her elbows.
“Yet your demeanor would suggest you are angry with me; therefore, I must have hurt you in some way.”
“I have no wish to discuss this any further.”
He was silent for a while, and Livvy could feel his eyes on her face while hers looked over his shoulder.
“I missed you, you know. Missed the way your hand would fit inside mine as we walked through sun-warmed meadows on a clear day. We would seek out the largest tree and lie beneath it and you would sing to me.”
Livvy closed her eyes as one hand cupped her cheek. She willed herself to stay rigid and shut out the memories his words were forming in her head.
“I used to hear the sound of your laughter some nights while I struggled with the need to come home. I could see your face and the way your eyes lit from within when you smiled at me.”
She stiffened as his fingers trailed over her mouth.
“I have never seen a more beautiful smile to this day.”
His voice had always mesmerized her, the smooth deep tones like heated honey, but she was no longer the naive girl he had left behind. The pain of his departure had taught her one thing— never trust him again.
“I have no wish to hear any more of your ramblings,” Livvy said, struggling to get away from him; she winced as pain shot through her. “Therefore, I insist you release me.
“But this, Livvy,” he said, his breath brushing her ear as he inhaled deeply. “I have never smelled your scent on another.”
Lady In Disguise-available now
Other Books By Wendy Vella
Historical Romances
Regency Rakes Series
Duchess By Chance
Rescued By A Viscount
Tempting Miss Allender
The Langley Sisters Series
Lady In Disguise
Lady In Demand
Lady In Distress
The Lady Seals Her Fate
The Raven & Sinclair Series
Sensing Danger
Seeing Danger
Touched By Danger
Scent Of Danger
Vision Of Danger
The Lords Of Night Street Series
Lord Gallant
Lord Valiant
Lord Valorous
Lord Noble
Stand-Alone Titles
The Reluctant Countess
Christmas Wishes
The Earl’s Encounter
Mistletoe and The Marquess
Contemporary Romances
The Lake Howling Series
A Promise Of Home
The Texan Meets His Match
How Sweet It Is
It Only Took You
Don’t Look Back
A Long Way Home
The Ryker Falls Series
Somebody To Love
From This Moment