Bedford Street Brigade 02 - Love Unbidden by Laura Landon Read Free Book Online Page A

happened, he wouldn’t be here with his arm around the prettiest woman in London. If everything was the way it was before, a particularly compelling kiss would never have happened.
    “It will be over soon.”
    She turned into him and tipped her head back. “Do you think so?”
    “I do,” he said, then lowered his head and kissed her.
    After last night, he told himself he wouldn’t kiss her again. But how could he stop himself when the sun was nearly gone and it was turning into such a perfect evening? How could he when she needed his comfort so badly, and he needed hers even more? How could he, when all he could think of was how he’d miss having her in his arms when this case was over?
    Quinn deepened his kiss. He opened his mouth over hers and sought what she’d hinted at giving him before.
    Her mouth was a warm cavern that echoed all the passion that lay hidden inside her. His tongue sought hers, touched hers, danced with hers. The longer he kissed her, the more desperate he became to possess her. The longer he held her, the more determined he was to keep her near him. The longer she remained in his arms, the more reluctant he was to ever let her go.
    Quinn kissed her once more, then lifted his mouth from hers. Her breathing was as ragged as his. Her gasping breaths as frantic.
    Quinn held her close, knowing that neither of them had the strength to stand on their own. Knowing that neither of them wanted to release the other.
    “Do you know what’s happening between us?” she whispered.
    He shook his head, but that was the only answer he could manage.
    “Do you regret where we’re going?”
    “No, lass. I don’t regret it.”
    “But things between us are going down a path you didn’t intend to travel. Aren’t they?”
    Quinn couldn’t help but smile. “Aye, lass. Things have taken a turn I didn’t intend to take.”
    She pressed her cheek against his chest and nestled close to him. “Don’t worry, Quinn. I don’t expect anything from you. I knew what you were able to give from the day I first met you.”
    “Did you?”
    “Yes, and it’s all right.”
    “No regrets?” Quinn’s heart stuttered inside his chest while he waited for her answer.
    “No, Quinn. No regrets.”
    Quinn held her in his arms for several long minutes. He didn’t want to let her go. Because when he did, he knew he’d be the one left with regrets.
    A lifetime filled with regrets.
     
     

CHAPTER 6
    Nellie rose early and had breakfast waiting when Quinn came in. The tired look in his eyes told her he’d gotten as little sleep as she had.
    She wanted to explain to him that she understood why he considered the risks he took too great to expect a wife to live with the possibility of losing her husband. But she loved him so much, she was convinced she could risk anything for his love.
    She’d fallen in love with him months ago when he’d begun gracing every day with his smiles from across the bakery cou nter, and these past few days—even with all the horrid ugliness that had intruded into her life—had set her heart singing.
    But during the middle of the night, when the world was its blackest, and bleakest, she wasn’t sure she could survive if he was taken away from her. She loved him so much that she wasn’t sure she could live one day without him. And yet, the voice of reason inside her head told her that even one day with the man she loved was better than none.
    Maybe it was because she wasn’t an immature lass of seventeen like she’d been before. Maybe it was because she’d already given her heart to one man only to have lost him in the blink of an eye. Maybe it was because the love she felt for Quinn was so much deeper than any love she’d felt before. Whatever the reason, she knew she could accept the risks that went with his job, as long as she had even one day of having his love.
    “Here,” she said, setting a cup of coffee in front of him. “You look like you need this.”
    He took a sip of the hot