Milan Courtney

What if, her foolish hopes whispered. What if this time he was serious?

She’d thought it so many times. It had never been true. Nonetheless: What if? she thought, what if what if?

No, really, he imagined himself saying. I really am prepared to give half my dukedom to you. But I should warn you—it’s no fun.

you truly not? Knowing what it is like to see your father not allow you to help, will you make me feel the same way?”

“That’s different,” she snapped. “I love my father.”

“Chloe.” There was a hint of reproach in his voice.

“The question has never been who my list is about,” Jeremy told her. “It’s been about whether she’ll have me.”

“Let me protect you as much as you have protected me. It will not weigh me down to love you. It will set me free.”

Look at you,” Jeremy said in awe. “With your full sentences and your conjugated verbs. I am in awe of your cognitive capacity.”

you, I wouldn’t be able to give a carefully thought-out account. I could only say that you make me feel like the home I want to live in.”

“It leaves me at a disadvantage,” he said. “Between the two of us, you could choose anyone in the entire world who met your standards. I can only choose you.”

Maybe if I’d been lucky enough to fall in love with a less inspiring woman.” He raised his head to glare at her. “But look at you. You are not a once-a-fortnight woman.”

Easy enough to give her a moment when he wanted her to have the rest of his life.