Kate Hoffmann - Marcus

Eden frowned. “That’s going to make it all better?” She stared down at the plate, a skeptical expression on her face. “They’re just brownies from a box. Maybe I should have bought a cheesecake or a pie or something a little fancier.”

“They’ll love you,” Marcus said, reaching over to smooth her hair from her face. “Because I love you.” He’d waited a long time to admit his feelings to Eden, but there was no use denying them any longer. He had fallen hard and there was no going back, not that he’d ever want to.

A slow smile curled the corners of Eden’s mouth. “You do?”

Marcus nodded, pulling her across the seat into another kiss, this one much deeper and filled with desire. “I do.”

“I love you, too,” she said softly, smoothing her hand over his face.

He kissed her again, savoring the taste of her mouth. “Now are you ready to go in?”

Eden shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.”

Marcus pressed his forehead to hers and looked intently into her eyes. “I can tell you exactly what will happen. Rory and Eddie are going to be amused that I’ve managed to find a woman at all. Mary Grace will give you a big hug and tell you that you’re prettier than your pictures. Jane will be completely starstruck. Ian will probably want to arrest you and Dec will be pissed off big-time. Da won’t know who Eden Ross is, nor will he care, but he’ll love you. Ma will be happy to see you. And I will be by your side no matter what happens, okay?”

Eden reached into her pocket and withdrew a wad of cash, then handed it to him.

“What’s this?” Marcus asked.

“To settle the deal with your brothers. Two thousand dollars. Daddy gave me an advance on my paycheck. I figured I should pay since I’m the one who seduced you.”

Marcus shook his head. “Oh, no, I’m the one who seduced you, so I should pay.”

“You’re remembering all wrong!” Eden cried.

Marcus grabbed the plate of brownies from her lap and set them on the dashboard, then picked her up and pulled her into his lap. His lips captured hers, and as he kissed her he ran his hand over her body, lingering on her belly. He slid his palm beneath the cotton peasant top she wore and found warm skin and then the soft flesh of her breast. “I don’t think you’re remembering it correctly,” he murmured, biting at her lower lip. “Would you like me to remind you of exactly what happened?”

Eden moaned softly as his thumb teased at her nipple, bringing it to a stiff peak. “Yes, please,” she said.

He kissed her again, this time seducing her mouth slowly and thoroughly. Eden wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed, a contented sound that made his blood warm. She was finally home and happy, and as long as she slept in Marcus’s arms, he wouldn’t need anything more.