Page 52 of A Story of Love

“Then why do you look so grim?”

Because you should stay as far away from me as possible, and I should help you by avoiding you at all costs.

He immediately ignored that advice and said, “Tell me, what do you do when you are not working, Lorelei?”

“I don’t recall giving you permission to use my Christian name.”

“You didn’t.”

She snorted softly and then said, “Nobody calls me that.”

“Oh? What do they call you?”

“Miss Fontenot.”

“I meant what do your friends call you?”

“But we are not friends, my lord.”

“Are you still angry about the last time?”

Her eyes flickered and she glanced away, but then quickly dragged her gaze back to him. “Oh that. I’d already forgotten.”

They both heard the lie in her voice.

Fast left that dangerous subject behind and said, “You look lovely tonight. Another new frock?”

“Yes,” she said shortly.

“You look annoyed.”

She pursed her lips.

“What is amiss?” he persisted. “Why do you look like such a squeeze crab?”

“Squeeze crab?”

Fast smirked at her amused outrage. “If the shoe fits.”

“Don’t worry, my lord. For once, it’s not you.”

“What a relief. Then what is it?”

She paused for so long that he thought she’d ignore his prodding. “It is this dress,” she eventually admitted.

“What is wrong with it?” he asked with altogether too much heat.

Fortunately, she did not notice his strange reaction. “Nothing is wrong with it.”

She was right about that; she looked bloody gorgeous.

“Somebody gave it to me.”

“Oh? Is that bad?” he asked carefully.

She shook her head, her cheeks turning that dark rose shade he’d grown to love. “Never mind.”

“You can’t just dangle an interesting tidbit like that in front of me and then say never mind.”