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Eleanor choked on the sformato. Had Colin even listened to what she wanted? “What makes you believe I’m wealthy?”

“Your aunt, of course.” He waved a negligent hand. “When she goes, you’re the only living relative. Ergo, it stands to reason you’re an heiress. The old bat is loaded.”

Outrage built in her chest, but instead of responding, she crammed the rest of the dessert into her mouth. How dare he speak of her aunt as though she were nothing more than a means to an inheritance?

Bruce sighed, and Ellie gritted her teeth. The habit was downright annoying. “You’ve an acceptable figure for a commoner, Eleanor. But if you’re serious about dating me , a viscount—” not yet , Ellie thought angrily “—I need you to be more, but less.”

Not for the first time that evening, Eleanor blinked at him, at a complete loss for words. “I’m sorry?”

“I think if we start with ten pounds now, and another five pounds for each of our next three dates, I could be photographed with you in public. You’d be perfect for me.

” The smile again. “We’d make stunning pictures for the papers.

You’ll need new clothing, of course, as your choices tonight are a bit dowdy.

And while I appreciate the modesty, you’ll need to show more skin.

Oh! I forgot to mention. I’m very good in bed. ”

“Um, that’s a great offer,” Ellie replied as sweetly as she could manage, “but I don’t see us working out, Bruce.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be ridiculous.

You realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You may not be accepted at first, of course, because of Andrew and that small dating scandal, but no one would snub you directly, not if you have my name as protection.

And for God’s sake, Eleanor, stop eating!

If you take another bite of that pudding, I’m going to leave.

Someone might think I ate dessert, and if that gets back to my trainer, he’ll make my life hell in the gym! ”

She very carefully scraped the bottom of the dish and plopped the spoon into her mouth, then leveled a stare at him. “Like I said. I don’t see us working out.”

He threw his napkin down in a huff, then whipped out his wallet and tossed a couple of notes onto the table. “I don’t want Gina to think I’m cheap,” he said, before he stomped off.

Ellie raised an eyebrow, wondering what his ex had to do with anything, then shook her head slowly, first trying to understand, then trying to calm herself.

It was a futile effort. She pulled her phone out and jabbed Colin’s number into it.

“That was quite a show,” Colin noted dryly as he slid into Bruce’s empty seat, making Ellie jump.

She glared at him as she shoved her phone back into her purse. “I specifically said no aristocrats . A viscountcy is…wait for it… aristocratic . What don’t you understand about those words?”

Colin inspected her empty dessert bowl. “That looked good.”

Ellie ignored him. “I understand that my aunt thinks that a title will be what’s best for me. But this isn’t Regency England. I don’t need the protection of a man, or his name. I just want to be happy. Preferably by myself, in my bookshop, with my books. And a cup of tea.”

“And a cat.”

She glared at him. “I don’t like cats.”

He laughed. “Well then, that lessens the chances of you becoming a crazy cat lady.”

She didn’t laugh. Instead, she looked away. “It’s my life,” she muttered mulishly.

“I know.” He reached across the table and touched her hand. Electricity shot up her arm, traveling straight to her heart, but she stared at her empty dessert dish and willed the feeling away. Softly, he added, “I want to make you happy.”

His words further cracked her already fragile heart.

You would make me happy. The unbidden thought panicked her, and she quickly swallowed past the painful lump in her throat. “I’d like to go,” she blurted out.

They stood, and Colin pulled out his wallet.

“Oh, he left some money,” Ellie said quickly.

“Not nearly enough.” He chuckled. “I heard he didn’t want to come off as cheap to Gina.”

“Which was a strange thing to say, wasn’t it?” Ellie wondered aloud, shrugging into her jacket.

“Not so strange if you consider the fact that Gina’s sitting by the window over there.

” Colin smirked. He gave the woman a small wave, and she dipped her head in response.

“While this guy looked good on paper, there was something about him that seemed…off. So I dug a little, contacted his ex, and gave her a free dinner in exchange for her presence.”

Ellie gaped at him. “What? Why would you set me up with him if you knew he was still hung up on his ex?”

“Because he fit most of your criteria.”

“That’s absurd!” she exclaimed, affronted.

Colin led her into the faint London drizzle of the night and handed a card to the valet. Once they’d gotten into the car and pulled away from the restaurant, Colin cleared his throat. “I have a confession.”

Ellie’s heart jumped to her throat and her mind raced.

Did he purposely set her up with Bruce to show her that he, Colin O’Rourke, would be the best match for her?

That, her list be damned, he was the only one for her?

She held her breath in anticipation. She became hyperaware of the way the rain clung to his impossibly long eyelashes, which framed his deep, intense, dark brown eyes.

Everything slowed…until the words he spoke buried every last one of her hopes so far into the ground, Ellie knew they’d never see the light of day again .

“I knew you wouldn’t like him. But he ticked all the boxes on your list, and then some.

I needed you to see that matching is more than what’s selected on a form.

It’s more than a title, an occupation, or the amount of money in the bank.

It’s got to be a personal connection. A spark.

That indefinable moment when you think, This person is the one I want to make a life with.

” He paused, and for a second the only sound was the intensifying rain hitting the roof of the car.

“It’s got to be right. If it’s not right, it’s not worth it. ”

“I don’t want to do this anymore,” she choked out.

“I didn’t mean for this to hurt you,” Colin said, his voice soft. “But I can see that it did, and for that, I’m sorry. I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me, and allow me the chance to help you find your happily ever after.”

He has no idea, she realized. As Colin pulled out into the city traffic, Ellie watched the rivulets track down the window, not really seeing anything through the unshed tears in her eyes.

Ellie tossed her phone onto her table and flopped onto her sofa. Moments after Colin had dropped her off, her aunt called and told her all about the press conference she was to attend the next day.

Wryly, she wondered how far her aunt planned to test her love.

Her phone rang again, and Ellie couldn’t help but glance at it, though she had no desire to speak to anyone at the moment.

Except the one person who was calling her. She scrambled to answer. “Hi!”

“Ellie! It’s me!”

Ellie squealed with unbridled girlish glee. “I know, Gwen! I thought you were in Africa? ”

“Oh, um, no, I’m back now. I was home, but then I got bored, so I hopped a flight to Dublin, and I’m here now. The weather is so gorgeous. I think I’d like to live here. Are you free this weekend? I can visit you in London or you can come over here.”

Ellie laughed. Gwendolyn Allen—her best friend since childhood—was a whirlwind of energy.

Winnie had made it a point to keep the girls in each other’s lives as they grew up, visiting the Allens at least once per year and having them to London once as well.

When the girls went to university, they each did a semester abroad at the other’s school, and roomed together.

Their friendship was as deep as it was unlikely.

Where Ellie was reserved and quiet around most people, Gwen was outgoing and loud.

Ellie studied English literature and library science; Gwen studied travel and hospitality, and minored in so many things that even she couldn’t keep track.

Even their looks were polar opposites—while Ellie lamented her rain-frizzed brown hair, Gwen always complained about her unruly ginger curls.

Ellie’s tawny eyes were as golden as Gwen’s green ones were vibrant.

But none of their differences mattered when they were together.

“Only you would make a plane ride seem like a walk across the street! But I don’t think I can leave London. I have a thing tomorrow, and I have a debriefing about the date I just had.”

“You had a date? That’s amazing!” Gwen cried, then caught herself. “Not amazing. That’s the wrong word. I meant fantastic. Because seriously, Eleanor, you need to get out there more. You’re the biggest catch in all of England!”

“I could say the same about you, Gwendolyn , but as America is significantly bigger than my little rock, I think you should dip your toe in that pond.”

“I feel like that’s some sort of literary reference, but as you know, my reading tends toward travel magazines,” Gwen replied breezily.

“No lit references,” Ellie promised with a laugh. “But I appreciate how you avoided my cloaked question.”

“Cloaked question. That’s so British.”

“No it’s not!”

“Okay, then, it’s so Ellie. And you know I’m seeing someone.”

“So you say, but you never talk about him,” Ellie replied.

“We weren’t talking about me,” Gwen deferred. “So tell me about your guy!”

Ellie twisted a strand of hair around her finger and frowned. “Terrible seems tame. He’s a viscount—”

Gwen groaned. “Oh, God. Ellie, you didn’t agree to another blind date from Winnie, did you? I thought we learned our lesson last time? Or maybe the time before that…”

Ellie’s choked laughter forced her to grab a glass of water from the kitchen. “Hey, at least your date had common decency!”

“Yours had a title,” Gwen pointed out with a snicker.