Page 189 of The Grand Duel
Her eyes flick between mine. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”
“It will bother me more if you don’t come with me.”
Her lips curl up. “Well, I’d hate to upset the boss.”
“You’ll come?”
She nods. “What about the dogs?”
“They come, too.” I call to them and then pour water on the fire.
I don’t know what to feel as we leave the cottage and head for the estate. On one hand, I know it’s completely out of character for me to bring someone to dinner, and I know my friends will be losing their minds over how monumental that is.
But then on the other hand, there’s Lissie, knees curled up under her on the seat as she chats on about something Edna told her she has in her walk-in wardrobe, and there’s nothing at all monumental about that, her, or us, or with me taking her to dinner.
Not to me.
I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
For the terror to set in.
I felt it in the hotel room that morning in Italy—briefly—knowing I was well and truly somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be, but then she left me in the bed, andthat, that feeling of not doing something I desperately wanted to do, that was monumental.
That was terrifying.
Wrong.
“Charles, are you even listening to me?”
I look down at her, her frown deep.
I smile and reach out to brush my finger over her nose. “Always.”
THIRTY-FOUR
Lissie
Isit up in the seat when Charlie turns into a little lane off the main road, the cattle grid making my teeth rattle momentarily. Fields pass us by on either side of the car, the tall trees lining the lane making it hard to see beyond, but I can make out enough to see the beauty in it.
“Wow. What a view.”
“One of the best views in the world.” He leans in closer, slowing down so that I can see better. “I may be slightly biased, though.”
“Wait, do the Lowells own all of this?”
He smiles. “If the Lowells don’t own it, it’s Montgomery land.”
“Elliot?”
“His parents. They live over on the other side of the lake.”
Shit. They’rerichrich. I rub my hands together between my thighs, sitting up. “Should I not get dressed? I’m covered in dirt from the logs.”
“You’re perfect.”
“Charlie, I’m filthy. I’m wearing your clothes.” Oh god. “I have a T-shirt on underneath, but I’ll be freezing. I didn’t even wear a proper bra.”
“Thank you for that information.”