Livy wandered down the stairs early the following morning. She had had restless night and was eager to be out of bed and away from her thoughts.  She had run through the previous evening's events over and over again in her mind, and she was no closer to figuring anything out then she had been when she had left Declan the night before.

The only thing she was sure about was that she had seen a new side of Declan, one she had never seen before, and it made him more human. She was also sure that his kiss had affected her in a way that no other kiss ever had. Her lips still tingled when she thought about it. What she was having a hard time figuring out was if it had affected him as much as it had affected her, and why it even mattered if it did.

Her kiss with Nelson had been nice but that was all it had been. The was no excitement with him.

It still stunned her when she realized that Declan was not who she had spent most of her life imagining him to be, and she was beginning to think that Theodora was right, the man had some major secrets that he was keeping.

She wandered into the dining room and stopped short when she saw Declan sitting at the table with a plate of food, cup of coffee, and the newspaper spread before him. He looked up at her, letting his glance briefly take in her appearance, before going back to his paper. She tightened the belt on her robe in an automatic defensive action, but she needn't have worried, his glance looked mildly bored and that was all.

She was beginning to think she had imagined the heat she had seen in his eyes the previous evening. Maybe she had made the entire thing up. She walked over to the coffee pot on the sideboard and poured herself a cup before she sat at the table and reached for what little bit of the paper he had left behind. She found the social column and looked it over, pausing when she saw a photo of her and Declan. It was one that had been taken as they were leaving the party the previous evening, she hadn't even been aware that they had been photographed.

"Did you see this?" she asked as she read the short blurb that stated their names and questioned what their relationship really was, it hinted that Declan was after her money because her father's shipping business was floundering since his passing. She couldn't help the snort that escaped as she read it.

"If only they knew the truth, eh?" Declan asked as he leaned back in his chair, throwing his napkin next to his plate. "Still, it's a good photo and a good beginning."

Livy heard the doorbell ring in the distance but didn't think anything of it, knowing that Raoul would handle it.

"A good beginning? How do you figure, they're saying that you're marrying me for my money?"

"Yes, but they are at least starting to speculate that we're a couple. It was something that worried me."

"Because of the age difference?" She looked down at the photo, it was a good one. Declan's dark good looks were the perfect foil for her lightness. He made her look small and delicate and what woman wouldn't like that.

"Sixteen years is not a minor difference," he said almost to himself.

"Yes, if you were a particularly precocious young man then I could possibly be your daughter." She didn't think before she spoke and her head jerked up as soon as realized what she had said.

"I don't know whether to be amused or appalled by that statement." He stood pushing back his chair and moving to pour himself another cup of coffee.

Livy's head jerked towards the entrance of the dining room when she saw movement, she was surprised to see Nelson hovering as he looked from her to Declan.

Declan turned and looked at him as well, but didn't seem surprised to see him.

"Nelson, what are you doing here this early?" Livy asked in a rush. She wondered if Declan was thinking the same thing she was? That with her in her bathrobe they presented a nice little domestic scene and it could be interpreted all wrong.

"I wanted to make sure you got home alright last night, but I see that you did." His mouth compressed into a thin line of displeasure and Livy immediately felt guilt.

"Won't you join us in a cup of coffee?" she offered, letting her glance dart towards Declan who was sipping his as he watched them, unfazed, over the rim of his cup.

Nelson moved to pour himself a cup and then took the chair next to Livy, but Declan remained where he was as he watched them.

"I wanted to check on you, and I thought I could also give you a lift to work. We can discuss how the party went last night." He leaned towards her as he spoke.

Livy looked down at herself before answering, "But I'm not dressed."

"I can wait," he said softly.

"Unfortunately, I cannot," Declan said as he set his coffee cup down on the table. "I have an early meeting." He walked over to Livy and leaned down placing his lips next to her ear as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Don't forget, we're going to the theater tonight," he said.

Livy knew of no such plan and she turned her head to object only to find her face in his, and he took advantage of the closeness to capture her lips with his own. Capture was the only word that could be used to describe it, it wasn't a gentle peck, and Livy was immediately lost, just as she was the night before.

When he pulled away he smiled at her and then Nelson before he left the room. She noted that it wasn't a nice smile, it was a smile of warning.

For a moment, Livy was frozen in shock at his sudden kiss, but when she came to her senses she jumped up, excusing herself as she hurried across the hall. He was where she knew he would be, in his study, and she closed the door behind her and leaned against it.

"What the hell was that?" she insisted as she watched him packing his brief case.

"I can't give my future wife a kiss goodbye before work?"

"Stop it Declan. It's getting old and there's no ring on my finger yet."

"That's your-"

"Choice, so you keep saying, only it's not, is it? Because if I had my way we would already be married. You're the one who keeps putting it off and I don't know why?" She walked towards him. "You say there are reasons for your willingness to marry me, yet you don't marry me." She waited for him to explain and when he didn't she changed the subject. "What you did to Nelson was rude."

"Perhaps, but..."

"But what?"

"As I said Livy, you're too trusting. The man is not who you think he is."

"How do you know? He has only been kind to me, and he likes me which makes a nice change." She turned to leave but before she could get to the door she felt his hand on her arm, stopping her.

"Call it experience or gut instinct, but none if it is about you, it's about him."

"How?"

"I don't know, and only time will tell if I'm right, all I'm asking is that you be careful."

"Fine Declan, I told you last night that I trust you, so I'll trust you on this, but I think your wrong." She bit the inside of her cheek praying that he was.

"I almost hope I am," he said as if sensing her thoughts, and the tone in his voice caught Livy off guard. She looked up at him and noticed a weary expression on his face. "For the record Livy, I like you. I told you last night that I did." He looked at her face searchingly before releasing her.

"Yes, you mentioned it as one of the reasons you were willing to marry me, but you never mentioned the other reasons." She stepped towards him and she swore he actually thought about stepping back, the great Declan Brooks was backing down, from her. She sensed his weakness and it made her feel powerful which went to her head for a moment. "You never mentioned the other reasons."

She should have known better, as soon as the words left her mouth he saw it as a challenge and he stepped up, he was never one to stay down for long.

"Sure, I'll give you another reason Livy." His hand snaked around her back, pulling her close. "I want you, I want you more than I have wanted anything in a very long time." He looked down at her and she was waiting breathlessly for him to kiss her, but he didn't. Instead he pushed her away and moved back to his desk. "However, that being said, I am much older than you, and I'm not sure that, like Taft, it wouldn't be taking advantage of the situation. Unlike Taft, I do respect you and care enough not to want to hurt you." He locked his briefcase on the last word and it made them sound so final.

He reached for his suit jacket, putting it on as he waited for her reaction, but she was struck dumb, she had nothing to say. She was shocked that he felt that way, that he wanted her more than he had wanted anything in a very long time. Those were powerful words.

"We'll leave at seven this evening."

She only nodded as she stared at him.

"I'm not a monster Livy, I'm not out to get your money or to control you." He walked past her opening the door. "I promised to take care of you and that's what I intend to do. Of course, it would be much easier if you didn't fight me so much." He gave her a lopsided smile that hinted at the boy he had once been and it went right to her heart, then he was gone. Leaving Livy even more confused than she had been.