Read Online Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) by Maureen Driscoll - Free Book Online

then  looked away from him, as if hoping he
hadn’t heard the emotion.
    “My parents passed away, as well,” said Hal, not
knowing even as he said it why he should speak of such a thing to a relative stranger. 
He rarely talked about it to anyone and certainly to no one outside of his
family.  Perhaps it was because he’d heard the catch in her voice.  She was
someone who understood loss, as well.
    Best not to dwell on that.
    “Miss Sutton,” drawled Hal, with his most charming
smile.  “I am afraid I must take a page from your servant’s book.  If you don’t
tell me where you are going, I shall be forced to exact payment from you.”
    “My lord,” said Mel, her voice once again its strong,
repressive and sultry self, “I have very little money and even less intention
of being beholden to you.”
    “I do not want your money, Miss Sutton.  But I must
insist you share a treacle tart with me.”  He indicated a sweets shop but a
block away.  “Since Flora will not bring me my treat, I must be satisfied
somehow.”
    From the look of surprise upon her face, he’d caught
her off guard and he was glad of it.  Normally it didn’t take much to persuade
a lady to let him escort her anywhere.  He usually had to think up any number
of excuses to avoid it.  But Miss Melanie Sutton would rather walk the streets
of London alone than accept his company.  And now she looked like he’d offered
her Thames swill instead of treacle tarts.
    But perhaps she thought better of her churlishness,
because she finally smiled and said “Perhaps just one, my lord.”
    “Excellent.  But you really must call me Hal.”  He
pulled her arm through his, then escorted her across the street and into the
sweets shop.
    The small but elegant establishment smelled of
cinnamon and baking bread.  Hal ordered for the two of them, then sat back to
study his prey.
    She must have had some hint of his thoughts – none
of which could be stated to an innocent such as she – because she looked away
and her cheeks flooded with color. “My lord,” she began, blushing prettily.
    “Hal,” he corrected, as he placed his hand upon hers.
    “Hal,” she said, as she looked up at him from
beneath her long lashes.  “This is most embarrassing, but I must find the….that
is to say….”  She bit her lip and looked away.
    “Oh!  Of course,” said Hal as he rose, then pulled
out her seat.
    She smiled shyly at him again, then set off toward
the back of the shop.
    Hal watched her go, then took his seat.   This bet
of Francis’s was going to be a problem.  Obviously the girl had lived a very
sheltered life if just his gaze could make her blush such a brilliant hue.  He
had to figure out a way to kiss her but at the same time let her know he didn’t
mean anything serious.  Then he had to find a way to get Francis to stick to
his original promise to show discretion.  But that would never work because the
wager was already in the book.  Perhaps he could publicly forfeit the bet, but
make Francis pay up on the side.  But that was patently dishonest.  Mayhap he
should walk away from the wager all together and admit his loss.  He could
stand a few jokes at his expense.  The most important thing was that the chit’s
reputation not be harmed.  That meant he had to leave her alone.
    He found he didn’t like that one bit.
    It would be no hardship kissing her.  She might be
American, but she was really quite fetching.  She blushed a bit much for his
sensibilities.  But maybe that was because the courtesans he spent time with
couldn’t summon a blush for love nor money.  Well, possibly money.
    But she’d been so innocent that she couldn’t excuse
herself to use the facilities without blushing.  She might actually faint if he
kissed her.  But as he’d look at her lips while speaking to her, he’d been
drawn to how full they were.  How soft they looked.  They seemed almost
familiar.  It was as if he knew what they’d taste