Hugh sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a sign that he was agitated.
“I know, I know. But—” He reached out and clasped her by the shoulders. God, how he loved touching her. “I’ve seen them together. You have too. And I’ve spoken to Luc. I’m starting to think that there is genuine affection between them.”
She was gazing up at him, a frown of consternation upon her brow, and Hugh had to fight the urge to pull her against him and kiss her the way he wanted to.
“Isn’t it possible?” he asked, a nervous energy coursing through him. “Isn’t it possible that two people who have long considered themselves enemies could find themselves, well, the opposite?”
“I want to believe it is,” she said softly. “But, I think—”
He stepped closer to her, closing even the small distance between them.
“You think too much,” he said, lowering his head slowly toward hers.
“You only say that because you don’t think at all,” she argued but she tilted her head just so.
“You talk too much,” he responded, so close to touching her lips with his own he could almost taste her.
“Well you—”
Hugh didn’t give her a chance to argue, yet again. His lips found hers, and he set about trying to remove any thoughts that weren’t of him from her busy mind.
THEY WERE LOSING AND it was all his fault!
Louisa desperately clung to her irritation. It was just the defense she needed against the unrelenting, soul-consuming love for him that was lurking inside of her, waiting to pounce.
She couldn’t allow herself to love him.
No matter how many seductive words he said, or how heart stopping his kisses.
Self-preservation was key.
They were rushing through the maze toward the birdbath, which Hugh was adamant was the answer to the first clue.
He wouldn’t even discuss it, the great big oaf. Just shouted that it was the birdbath and shot off, dragging her behind him.
As soon as they’d entered the maze, she managed to wriggle free of his grasp and now she was leading the way.
“How can they have gotten this far ahead?” she muttered crossly.
“Does it really matter?” Hugh asked from behind her.
Louisa swung round to glare at him.
“I’ve already told you that it matters,” she barked.
Hugh sighed and ran a hand through his hair, causing a stray jet black lock to fall over his forehead.
She wanted to brush it back from his face.
And then she wanted to cut it off because it had no business making her feel like she wanted to push it back.
God, this was infuriating; him, her feelings for him, his hair now too, apparently.
It was all far too much to deal with and solve riddles at the same time.
“Can’t you just leave them to be happy?” he asked.
He was right, she knew. She should leave well enough alone and, to be fair, Meredith did seem happier and happier in Lucas Mayford’s presence. But that was the rub. Just because he made her happy, didn’t mean he was trustworthy.
She really didn’t want to get into an argument with him again. Especially because their arguments lately were ending with kisses, and they were confusing and wonderful and really, terribly inappropriate.
“I do not want to lose,” she answered feebly.
Hugh studied her for a moment but then, mercifully, turned and began walking again.
“Come then, to the birdbath.”
“I’m not even sure if we should be going to the birdbath.”
“I told you, it’s obvious.”
“And how would I know? You didn’t even let me read the blasted clue.”
“Can’t you just trust me,” he asked with a disarming smile.
Oh, how I wish I could.
“I trust you about as much as I trust Mama’s pet dog. And that’s a vicious, irritating little thing as well,” she said then moved to take the lead once more.
HE WAS EITHER GOING to throttle her or kiss her senseless, Hugh decided as she sailed off in front of him, regal as a queen.
She was driving him bloody well mad.
Not least because she really did seem determined to come between Luc and Meredith.
And Hugh was certain that was no longer the right thing to do.
Who where he and Louisa Bright to stand in the way of their respective siblings’ happiness?
It seemed a horribly selfish thing to do.
And, really, Meredith Bright wouldn’t be the worst sister-in-law in the world.
In truth, she’d always been the most tolerable of all the girls. That was until Louisa Bright had grown and become very, very tolerable.
But Louisa still had a heart of solid rock; he was convinced, if her determination to come between the lovebirds was anything to go by.
And Sara — well, Sara was probably the most frightening of them all.
Anyone who looked so doll-like and angelic, and still managed to wreck the havoc she did, was not to be trusted, even for a moment. Poor Jackson.
Jackson, however, was not his priority right then. Louisa was.
“You really do need to do something about that temper of yours,” he called as he caught up to her.
“I have no problem with my temper. I have a problem with you.”