Bedford Street Brigade 02 - Love Unbidden Read Online Free Page B

daughters-in-law do the cooking and dishes, and all the hard work she used to do.”
    “What about your father?”
    “He died a year ago. But he lived long enough to see his children grown, and meet at least a dozen of his grandchildren.”
    “I’m glad,” Nellie whispered.
    “So am I.” His look turned more serious as he studied her. “You obviously love children, so, why aren’t you married with a house full of your own?”
    Nellie didn’t mind telling Quinn her story. It was common knowledge both here and at home. But she couldn’t bear to look at him when she told him. She didn’t want to take the chance she’d see pity in his eyes.
    The room suddenly seemed too small. She rose from the table and walked to the back door. “Would you like to go for a walk? It’s a beautiful evening.”
    “I’d love to,” he answered.
    Quinn slid back from the table and followed her. They stopped when they reached a wooden bench beneath a giant oak tree in the center of a small garden the neighbors shared. She sat, and he sat next to her.
    “I was engaged to be married when I was seventeen. His name was Robbie. He and his father were blacksmiths in a nearby village. We planned to be married in the summer. A month before our wedding, a horse kicked him and threw him backward. He struck his head on the anvil. He died immediately.”
    “Is that why you’re here with your sister?”
    Nellie took a deep breath. “One of the disadvantages of a large, close family is that in times of tragedy, they have a tendency to smother one with love and concern.”
    “So you left your family and came to live with your sister.”
    “Actually, I left my family and came to London by myself.”
    Quinn’s muscles clenched beside her, and Nellie felt his surprise.
    “You came alone?” he asked. “That was extremely brave of you.”
    “Actually, it didn’t take all that much courage. I knew where I was going, and what I was going to do. Daisy Fletcher’s brother was our vicar. He knew how desperate I was to escape, and wrote to his sister, asking her if she had a place for me in her bakery. She wrote back, saying she not only had a place for me in the bakery, but a room she’d rent me until I found a place of my own.”
    Nellie rose from the bench and took a few steps away from where Quinn sat. Before she realized it, Quinn was at her side. He offered her his arm and they continued their walk.
    “I lived above the bakery for several years, then Eileen came to work for Daisy, too. When she married Henry, I moved in with them, not only to help with expenses, but to help her with the babe she was expecting. I’ve been here ever since.”
    They slowly made their way back to the house. Finally, Quinn asked a question no one had ever asked her. A question she had never asked herself.
    “Do you still love him?”
    “Robbie?”
    “Yes.”
    She stopped. Did she love him? Had she ever loved him?
    “I was only seventeen at the time. I’m not sure I even knew what love was.”
    Nellie stopped and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’m sure if we weren’t in love, we would have learned to love each other. Getting married and having a family was all I knew at the time. It was all I wanted. But that was more than ten years ago. I can’t even remember what he looked like any more.”
    Quinn’s hands rested atop her shoulders and he turned her to face him.
    She lifted her gaze and stared into his handsome face.
    Before she could think of what she should do, his arms wrapped around her and he brought her close.
    He was going to kiss her, and there was nothing she wanted more. Robbie had only kissed her twice, and both times were the attempts of an inexperienced suitor. Nellie knew when Quinn Walker kissed her, it would be different. And she wanted nothing more than to experience his kiss.
    His lips touched hers and a riot of emotions exploded within her.
    His lips were warm and solid on hers. His kiss gentle. But the strength of his