Read Online Heart Strings (Music of the Heart Book 1) by Donna Hatch - Free Book Online Page B

I’d really like to become better acquainted with you.”
    He wanted to become better acquainted with her? He couldn’t mean that the way she thought. If only he did….
    She held up both hands in an attempt to ward off temptation. “Oh, no. I couldn’t impose.”
    “It would only be imposing if you refuse.” He smiled disarmingly, a friendly, slightly teasing glint brightening his eye.
    Still, she hesitated. How well, really, did she know him? Sure, he had helped her acquire the position as temporary opera harpist, he had come to her aid when she’d fainted, and he played the violin beautifully, but dare she trust him enough to go somewhere with him? Alone? All her life, she’d been cautioned to have a chaperone with her on the rare occasion she left home or if she ever were to entertain a male visitor.
    Of course, she was no longer the cloistered daughter of a gentleman whose every move fell under public scrutiny.
    Kit’s demeanor changed, light in his eyes softened and turned almost pleading. Very gently, he said, “I realize you don’t know me at all, but I give you my word as a gentleman that I will not allow any harm to come to you.”
    Her stomach chose that moment to growl.
    He grinned. “You can’t expect me to believe you aren’t hungry.”
    Heat raced to her cheeks and she laughed softly. “I won’t bother.”
    His grin widened. “I don’t recall ever meeting anyone who blushed so easily.”
    She held her portmanteau in front of her with both hands. “It’s my complexion. My mother used to say that people as fair as she and I are, are blessed with the gift of honesty—we can’t tell a lie or even hide our feelings without turning red.”
    “She is as fair-skinned as you are?”
    “Yes, she was.” She let out a little sigh. “She was a great beauty.” Rousing herself lest she fall into doldrums, she found a smile from somewhere inside her. “At least you won’t have to worry if I’m being truthful with you.”
    “I wasn’t worried. A late super then? With me?”
    She glanced around. Nora and Jane were gone. So much for her plan to ask for their help. Her weakness and hunger warred with her hope to sleep safely inside the theatre. At the moment, her hunger won. She’d probably regret her choice later. Perhaps she could somehow get back inside tonight.
    “Very well, I accept.” She slid the cover over the harp and picked up her portmanteau.
    He lifted a brow. “Do you carry that thing everywhere you go?”
    “Of course.” She lifted her head as if his had been a silly question, as if everyone carried baggage everywhere they went. He probably thought her odd.
    “Then please allow me to carry it for you.” He reached for her portmanteau.
    She hesitated again. Everything she owned was in that bag, but if she could trust him enough to go somewhere with him, surely she could trust him with her bag and its meager contents. She surrendered her portmanteau.
    With her bag in one hand, and his violin in the other, Kit wound through the orchestra pit to the stairs. Susanna followed him. As they reached backstage, he slowed his pace until she caught up with him. Then he matched his longer strides to her smaller steps. Jane and Nora stood in the wings, flirting with a pair of stage hands. They glanced at her as she walked past them next to Kit. Jane’s mouth dropped open before curving into a delighted smile, and Nora’s sentence trailed off.
    Susanna walked a little taller next to Kit. It was silly, of course. He clearly had no real interest in her. No matter. Just being seen with such an admired—and admirable—man sent a flutter of wild tingles all over her. This would be one of the sweetest of Sweet Moments she could take out later to savour when she needed to buoy her spirits.

Chapter Seven
     
    Unwholesomely pleased with herself at that moment, Susanna put her hand on Kit’s arm as they worked their way to the exit. She had sacrificed another opportunity to ask Jane and Nora about