Page 19 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars
We study each other for a moment.
“Do you mean because of my father?” she asks.
“Yes. He made me promise never to go near you again.”
“Still the same old Linc. Gotta do the Right Thing.”
I give her a wry smile. “Yeah, all right. I’d love to come.”
“Cool, okay.” She looks back at her phone and continues to type.
I’m a grown man now, and there’s no reason I have to do what Atticus Bell tells me anymore. But as I watch her, I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt deep inside. He’s the closest thing I have to a real father, and I flourished under his care for the time I was there. He was affectionate with me, and supportive, and although I never fully subscribed to his religious beliefs, he didn’t push them on the kids in his care. He did instill a moral code, and a set of principles I’ve lived by ever since. I respected him a lot and would have done anything to undo the loss of his faith in me. So being with Elora now seems like a betrayal of my promise.
But as I watch her text, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth while she concentrates, I can’t help but think about the way her blonde hair used to bounce around her shoulders in untidy waves. Or how soft her mouth was when I kissed her that day.
I want to kiss you, I told her as we stood under the oak tree by the barn. Will you let me?
She nodded, and I slid a hand into her silky hair and watched her cheeks flush as I lowered my lips to hers.
Jesus, I didn’t even use my tongue. I pressed my lips against hers once, twice, then a longer third time, the whole thing taking less than ten seconds.
I regretted losing Atticus’s trust, the friendship of his sons, and the comfort and safety of the school. But I never regretted kissing Elora.
“Stop staring at me,” she says without looking up. “You’re making me nervous.”
I chuckle. “I’m just admiring the view.”
She gives me a reproachful look. “I’m twenty-four now. That kind of chat-up line doesn’t work on me anymore.”
“It’s not a line. It’s the truth. You’re very easy on the eyes.”
She scoffs, lowering her phone. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“Just because I have tattoos, it doesn’t mean I’m a manwhore.”
“Yeah, yeah. I bet you’ve got shares in Tinder.”
“Fucking hell, I’d never use online dating. I can’t think of anything more soul destroying. I’m not into meaningless sex. I like to be wined and dined before I’m taken to bed.”
She giggles at that and looks at her phone. “Zoe says yes. And Joel and Fraser are both free. Well, even if Hallie can’t make it, we’ll still do it.” She looks up then. “So… I suppose I should ask you about the Bell Ring.”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. I’ll email Graham Tucker and ask him to send me the name and address of his colleague—the one with the friend who said he’d bought the ring.”
“Okay.” She gets to her feet. “I’d better get going.”
I’m disappointed, which surprises me. I stand, too, and walk with her to the door. “What’s your phone number?” she asks.
“I bought a cheap one with a Kiwi SIM.” I look up the number, as I haven’t memorized it yet. I read it out to her, and she texts me how to get to her apartment.
“Seven o’clock,” she says, pocketing her phone. “Don’t be late.”
“Yes, Mum.”
She pokes her tongue out at me, looking very much like the ten-year-old Elora I remember so well. All she needs are pigtails.
I open the door, and she moves into the doorway, then turns back to face me and hesitates. “Did you really get the angel wings for us?” She stares up at me. “Don’t lie to me, Linc.”
I look into her dark-blue eyes, thinking how beautiful she is. “A hundred percent yes.”
