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Authors: Laura Mills
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both sleeves of her dress back into place, then glanced over at him under dark golden lashes. He was preparing two more glasses of champagne when she couldn’t help wondering if the daring action she took to sun herself made him uncomfortable. When his eyes caught hers staring she turned away and commented on a bluebird fluttering through the branches of a tree.
Giving her a genuine smile he held out her glass. “Do you like champagne?” he asked.
“Yes, I suppose so. I’ve only had it one other time. It tasted sweet and had lots of bubbles, which made my nose tickle,” she giggled while touching her nose.
His white teeth showed between seductive lips as she took the fluted glass from him. His voice was enticing as he stretched out in the same position as she. “Try it and see,” he said.
“Mm, yes, this is the same, better than I remember and just as bubbly,” she giggled again.
Laughing with her, she was about to take another sip when he stopped her. “Wait. I think we should make a toast,” he suggested, watching her eyes widened in surprise as she nod in agreement. They held their glasses high and John went on. “To . . . us and our future succeeding accomplishments.”
Melissa smiled, feeling happy that her dreams were about to come true. “Hear, hear.”
Their glasses clinked together. For a brief second their eyes met while both sipped some champagne. For a moment longer they held each other’s gaze over the rim of their glasses when the sound of footsteps approached them.
“Are you two celebrating without us?” Miss Beckett asked playfully as she stood before the blanket they sat on.
John smiled up at Miss Beckett. “Of course not. Here you are.” He handed Miss Beckett hers and motioned to Jess to join them.
They both said their thanks and then Miss Beckett requested a toast of her own. With all four glasses in the air, she began. “To . . . friendship. May it be everlasting.” Four glasses of champagne clanged together.
After a short while both Jess and Miss Beckett excused themselves by clearing the disarray of dishes. They both headed for the carriage to look through and discuss more of Jess’ books.
Meanwhile John stood, motioning Melissa to follow his lead. They trailed away, spotting two huge rocks to sit upon at the edge of the stream. As they sat across from each other, John opened his journal so they could carry on with business.
Melissa observed John scrolling through his notes and took the opportunity to linger over his features. He was a handsome man, she couldn’t deny that, but he was a handsome man with a title, money and a charismatic personality, every feature needed to attract any number of women he preferred. Melissa imagined there were many and most, she presumed, were beautiful. She found herself attracted to him as well, to everything but his title.
Being born and raised in the country had influenced her established opinion of wealthy people with titles. They used their title to gain superiority, but in Melissa’s mind all men and women were created equal. She made an exception for Lord Blackburn, though. There wasn’t any doubt of his passion for the teachings of thoroughbreds.
“Melissa, would Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays work for you?” John asked, lifting his head to hear a response when instead he found her observing him again. “Melissa, what are you thinking about? Apparently not the schedule.”
His last question startled her out of her engrossing thoughts. “I, uh, yes, those days you said will suit me.”
He cast an odd expression her way, wondering what she was thinking about. “Do you not remember the days I asked about?”
What were they, oh, what were they? Think, think. “Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I believe.” Somewhere in her subconscious echoed the days he’d said.
A witty smile reflected on his face. “That’s correct. Now tell me what you were really thinking about?”
He shocked her with his innate awareness. The
Giving her a genuine smile he held out her glass. “Do you like champagne?” he asked.
“Yes, I suppose so. I’ve only had it one other time. It tasted sweet and had lots of bubbles, which made my nose tickle,” she giggled while touching her nose.
His white teeth showed between seductive lips as she took the fluted glass from him. His voice was enticing as he stretched out in the same position as she. “Try it and see,” he said.
“Mm, yes, this is the same, better than I remember and just as bubbly,” she giggled again.
Laughing with her, she was about to take another sip when he stopped her. “Wait. I think we should make a toast,” he suggested, watching her eyes widened in surprise as she nod in agreement. They held their glasses high and John went on. “To . . . us and our future succeeding accomplishments.”
Melissa smiled, feeling happy that her dreams were about to come true. “Hear, hear.”
Their glasses clinked together. For a brief second their eyes met while both sipped some champagne. For a moment longer they held each other’s gaze over the rim of their glasses when the sound of footsteps approached them.
“Are you two celebrating without us?” Miss Beckett asked playfully as she stood before the blanket they sat on.
John smiled up at Miss Beckett. “Of course not. Here you are.” He handed Miss Beckett hers and motioned to Jess to join them.
They both said their thanks and then Miss Beckett requested a toast of her own. With all four glasses in the air, she began. “To . . . friendship. May it be everlasting.” Four glasses of champagne clanged together.
After a short while both Jess and Miss Beckett excused themselves by clearing the disarray of dishes. They both headed for the carriage to look through and discuss more of Jess’ books.
Meanwhile John stood, motioning Melissa to follow his lead. They trailed away, spotting two huge rocks to sit upon at the edge of the stream. As they sat across from each other, John opened his journal so they could carry on with business.
Melissa observed John scrolling through his notes and took the opportunity to linger over his features. He was a handsome man, she couldn’t deny that, but he was a handsome man with a title, money and a charismatic personality, every feature needed to attract any number of women he preferred. Melissa imagined there were many and most, she presumed, were beautiful. She found herself attracted to him as well, to everything but his title.
Being born and raised in the country had influenced her established opinion of wealthy people with titles. They used their title to gain superiority, but in Melissa’s mind all men and women were created equal. She made an exception for Lord Blackburn, though. There wasn’t any doubt of his passion for the teachings of thoroughbreds.
“Melissa, would Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays work for you?” John asked, lifting his head to hear a response when instead he found her observing him again. “Melissa, what are you thinking about? Apparently not the schedule.”
His last question startled her out of her engrossing thoughts. “I, uh, yes, those days you said will suit me.”
He cast an odd expression her way, wondering what she was thinking about. “Do you not remember the days I asked about?”
What were they, oh, what were they? Think, think. “Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I believe.” Somewhere in her subconscious echoed the days he’d said.
A witty smile reflected on his face. “That’s correct. Now tell me what you were really thinking about?”
He shocked her with his innate awareness. The
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