Nick and Lilac by Marian Tee Read Free Book Online Page B

took out his phone. The urge to hear Karla’s voice was intense. Kissing Lilac had felt so right earlier, but now it felt like the vilest of sins. He was weak and ugly – not the kind of man who deserved to be with a girl like Lilac.
    Only Karla---
    Only the girl who had seen and loved him at his worst---
    I hope you’re fine.
    He sent the message before he could change his mind, his breathing becoming shallow, Nick’s chest squeezing hard as he waited for her to answer.
    His phone beeped, and his heartbeat spiraled out of control.
    Jason: I heard from your security that you’re still playing chauffeur.
    Slowly, Nick found himself laughing.
    Somehow, without even doing a thing, Lilac York was helping him heal.

 
     
    The Fourth Encounter
     
    “Yes…I’m happier.” The moment she spoke the words, Lilac realized it was true, and a smile unconsciously broke on her face at the thought of the Greek god that had been on her mind more often than not.
    “Care to share why?” Susan Petersen asked.
    “There’s…someone…he makes me feel…special.”
    “Could you give me an example of how this person makes you feel special?” Susan paused. “Did he for instance say he likes you more than a friend?”
    Lilac’s gaze flew to her in surprise, and that in turn surprised Susan as well. But what else could special mean, she wondered.
    “Oh…no…not like that,” Lilac protested as quickly as she could. She tried to put it into words. “He…just treats me differently.” Her thoughts flew back to the past days, of how he would smile that beautiful lazy smile of his when their eyes would meet across the hallway, those brilliantly blue eyes making her feel as if she was the only person who existed in his world.
     
    In an effort to make her tea parties more popular, the Marchioness of Bridge had fashioned today’s fete after the rules crafted by L’ange de la Cour. It meant the Angel of Courtship, and it was the pen name of one of the Gazette’s most popular anonymous columnists, her very modern advice on romance taking the Ton by storm.
    Every girl invited was given a table for two, where she would have the Grand Opportunity to impress a gentleman with her skills in serving tea. But all it ever did, Lilia thought with a sigh, was make it more apparent who were the Toasts of the Season and who were…not.
    Ah, well, at least the tea was superb, the scones delicious. Lilia heard a commotion behind her as she reached for another, all the while ignoring her mother’s warnings in her mind about gaining weight because of too many sweets.
    The tittering of the other girls indicated that An Important Guest had arrived. She turned curiously, and then there was no looking away, her gaze arrogantly held by the one man that made her entire body tremble.
    The people who stood between them parted without the duke ever speaking a word. His presence was so powerful he needed no words to express his command. He only had to look, and people rushed to obey his silent bidding. There were gasps aplenty when the duke chose the vacant seat opposite her – the same seat that the other gentlemen had ignored for they did not want to be partnered with a dull bluestocking like her.
    “You,” the duke said so softly she knew he only meant her to hear him, “look lovelier every time I see you.”
    And you, she thought helplessly, seem to want nothing but to make me blush.
    But of course she could not say that for it was not a proper thing to say. All she could do was reach for the teapot with trembling fingers. Ignoring the lazy amusement in his bright blue gaze, she asked quietly, “Would you like some tea, Your Grace?” It was a very silly answer, but it was the only thing she could think of saying that would not make her blush even more and set tongues wagging.
     
    “Lilac?”
    Her patient blinked then blushed, and Susan was even more surprised as well as just a little bit more hopeful. She had thought it would take Lilac more years