Page 72 of Kiss or Dare

He felt the bright burn of her lips against his chest even through the layers of clothing that separated them. She kissed the space above his beating heart.

Then she stilled and lifted slowly from his chest. She sat up straight, her head tilted to the side, the spot above her nose wrinkled. “Did you say Amazing Coffee Creator?”

“Don’t like it?” He ran his thumb down the wrinkles between her brow, smoothing them.

“Not at all.”

“The Brilliant Bean Burner, then.”

They both scrunched their faces.

“Nope, not that,” Devon said.

“You’ll figure it out,” Lillian said, putting her feet to the floor and standing. “We’ll figure it out together.” She leaned back against the desk, clasping her hands before her.

He sighed, wanting to pull her back down to his lap. “I am thankful for your organized mind, Lil Bean. I cannot always see a way forward these days.”

“Usually, when we look for ways forward, we get stuck on a single path. And we can go nowhere at all.” She smiled at him cheekily, pointing to his paper with her pen. “Write that down.”

He chuckled. “Are you done with me for the day?”

She tilted her head, considering. “I do not think I am. When you arrived, I was nose-deep in questions concerning another matter, namely Lady Abigail.”

“Your wallflower.”

“Yes. Perhaps you could help me with my little project?”

“Anything.”

“You know thetonbetter than I. Lady Abigail is a bit of a bluestocking and not afraid to show it. I understand her love of books, but will theton?”

“I like a good bluestocking.”

“You like all types of women.”

“I’m beginning to prefer one type to all others.” He reached for her hand, held it, stroked his fingers down the indentations between fingers, knuckles, tendons, showing her exactly which type he preferred. Her.

She shivered and spoke as if from a distance. “Bluestockings?”

“They can be a reviled lot, but not in every circle. It’s important to find the right…” He searched for the word, waving his hand in the air. “Subset of thetonif Lady Abigail wishes acceptance.”

“Excellent point. She need not be seen byeveryone,only those who will appreciate her for who she is. However, I’m afraid my acquaintances do not extend to the intellectual set.”

“Your father is a genius, Lillian. That’s about as intellectual as it gets.”

“We’re notphilosophical, though.”

Devon snorted. “Splitting hairs, my dear. You’re in luck, though. I do know some people. I’ll speak with them.”

“Would you?” She smiled. No. She glowed. And dammit, when she lit up like that, he rather felt he’d do anything to keep her so… illuminated by joy.

“I would very much appreciate it,” she said. “Perhaps if you could identify an event or two or three that we could attend, where these people you will gallantly seek out will be as well. All I require is an introduction.”

He kissed her knuckles, flipped her hand over, and kissed her palm. “I will.” He stood and wrapped her in his arms, wrapped her in a kiss. Because what else did he have? If he lost Frederick’s, he’d lose his independent ambitions, too.

CHAPTER18

Lillian had kissed Devon, and been kissed by him, so many times in the last month that she’d lost count somewhere around twenty-three. That had happened in the first week of their engagement. After he’d discovered his lips were the only ones that had ever touched hers, he’d grown rather… obsessed. She could not complain since she’d been fixated by his mouth for some time now.