Page 25 of His Revelation
He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Or her poor judgement, to be willing to be alone with a strange man like him.
And to think, I’d once considered marrying her!
But part of him felt guilty for judging her so harshly for wanting to be free from her normal life. After all, wasn’t that what he was doing?
That was the thought which convinced him.
Solemnly, he nodded. “I’ll keep ye safe, mila—Tiffany. Ye’ll no’ come to harm under my watch.”
She cocked her head at him, then nodded. “I believe you. I do not know why, because I do not know you from Adam, or Prince Albert, but I believe you mean what you say.”
His smile flashed. “Interestingly, those are my names.” Lysander Albert McAdam Gregor Oliphant. But she couldn’t know that, so he clarified, “Adam Albert Gaberlunzie.”
And she rolled her eyes. “Well, I certainly believethat,” she muttered sarcastically, shaking her head. Her lips pulled into a frown as she considered him. “What will you ask for in return?”
He blinked, still considering how plump her lips were, even while frowning. “What?”
“You have promised to keep me safe on this journey and to help me, but what will you ask for in return?”
The answer came immediately to his lips, likely because he was still staring atherlips and remembering how alluring they were when she chewed on the bottom one in consternation. “A kiss.”
It wasn’t until her beautiful blue eyes widened that he realized what he’d said, but he didn’t take it back. Nay, now that he’d said it, he realized that was exactly what he wanted. So instead of giving her time to argue, he nodded once, authoritatively.
“If I escort ye to York and help ye on whatever yer mission may be, all I’ll ask in return is a kiss. Ye’ve kissed one frog already,” he reminded her teasingly.
The shock had faded from her eyes, replaced by an intriguing sort of speculation. She cocked her head to one side and studied him. “One might argue a train ticket and hotel room would be enough payment.”
“Aye, onecouldargue that and be fine with it, but no’ me. I’m a champion arguer, and I’ll keep pushing until I get what I want.”
“Which is a kiss?”
He dipped his chin. “From ye, aye.”
She was studying him, and to his surprise, Lysander suddenly very much wanted her to approve. “And if I do not want to kiss you? You are quite different from any man I have ever considered kissing before, you see.”
I’ll wager I am, milady.
He was poor and broken and—well, not dirty, not anymore, but this bush of a beard was fairly unkempt. Oh, and he wasbarbaric, with his knees sticking out for all the world to see. He was likely as far down on her list of possible kissing partners as—as that frog.
But before he could try to persuade her further, she suddenly nodded once, firmly. “You have a bargain, MisterLunzie. If you keep me safe from harm on the journey, and help me complete my mission, I will provide you with a train ticket and lodging?—”
“And a kiss?”
Her lips twitched as she thrust out her hand to shake on their bargain. “And, if by the end of our journey, you have acted the part of a gentleman…” She took a deep breath which did interesting things to the front of her gown that Lysander did his best not to notice, “I will grant you a kiss, Lunzie. This will be an adventure of a lifetime.”
As Lysander took her hand and felt the warmth from her touch, he suspected she was right.
CHAPTER 6
Iam doing it!
I am really doing this?
Tiffany had questioned herself four dozen times already this morning, and it wasn’t even eight yet. She’d been up for hours packing, sneaking food, and whispering with Bonnie. Now, her sister gave her one last, big hug.
“I believe in you, sister. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“Of course!” Tiffany squeezed her back. “You will have your publishing company if this works.”
