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“I keep telling myself it’s impossible, but what I wouldn’t give to follow you around all day, Quint Allen,” I say as I stare up at him while we sway to the music.
“That might get rather circular. I’d like nothing more than to follow you around. You’re much more attractive than my father.” He drops his voice to the lowest whisper he can over the music and adds, “In fact, you’re the prettiest girl I know.”
“Now you’re just flirting.”
“This life would be so wonderful for us,” he says. “You’d be a natural helping my mother out.”
“And then what would you do?” I have to tease because Quint is being too serious. Staying with him isn’t actually a choice I can make.
“Admire you while you charmed all the ladies into helping out the sweet girls—and remind you quite often that we don’t have enough work at Gracewoods to employ them all ourselves.”
“Does she have a school or housing of some sort for them? Quint, that would be perfect, wouldn’t it? A way to train them and school them at the same time.” My voice rises with excitement.
He grabs my shoulders, laughing as he pulls me into a quick embrace. “Now how didn’t I think of something like that? You’re brilliant.”
“I’ve read too many romantic novels,” I correct, and we laugh together.
“Help me do it, love?” he asks, too genuine.
“Don’t,” I shush him. “Don’t ruin tonight with the truth.”
He frowns but lets the subject pass anyway, and a few moments later, a new song, this one upbeat, has us laughing together again.
Until my stomach growls, and I giggle at the unromantic reminder that we haven’t eaten dinner yet. Quint laces his fingers with mine, and we weave through the mob to find a table. Empty ones are scarce, but a woman with shining, brunette hair and a tiara studded with what’s probably real diamonds waves at us. “Quint!”
He leans over. “Do you mind?” he asks.
The woman is pretty and showing off her figure by leaning over the table and letting her fringed, spaghetti-strap dress reveal more than I want Quint admiring.
“No,” I reply, but my hesitation brings a smirk to his lips.
“Believe me, love, I’d ignore her, but Mother and I have been trying for weeks to get Lizette to join Mother’s charity’s board. She’s young, and she has a lot of money and too much time on her hands.” He nods to the drink at her elbow. “Plus, she knows everyone and nobody tells her no. She’d be perfect, and besides that, she’s the daughter of one of Mother’s friends. They’d both like to see her choosing her activities more wisely.” He chuckles.
Jealousy still stings in my chest, but more for the thought that Quint should be flirting with Lizette. A family friend, pretty, and in need of a good man like him to keep her out of trouble. One who would love Quint and wouldn’t leave him forever. A girl far better suited for him than me.
“I really don’t mind,” I say, injecting more genuineness into it.
“Thanks.” He waves back at Lizette, but before we reach the table, he draws me close and kisses me. For show, I think, at least a little bit, for both me and Lizette. To prove something to us both. It serves to prove a lot to me: My heart believes I’m meant to be with him.
“You shouldn’t do that,” I whisper.
“Because you don’t want me to?” he questions, but his expression says he knows the answer to that.
Lizette shoos away some people next to her to make room for Quint to pull out the chair for me, and then he waves down a waiter to order something to eat before he sits down as well.
“And who’s this?” Lizette asks, holding out her hand to me.
I take it, shaking it gently while Quint answers, “This is Clara Mitchell. Our fathers are very good friends.” His eyes laugh so much saying “fathers” that I nearly giggle as well.
“Oh, I see. A family friend,” Lizette teases.
“Yes.” Quint turns to stare at me, a captivating smile on his face, and I lose myself for a moment. “A very close family friend.”
“He’s been telling me about how much he wishes you’d help him with Mrs. Allen’s charity work.” I break the spell and turn away from Quint before he and Lizette get out of hand.
Lizette giggles, perhaps because my cheeks are bright pink. “Has he? He’s intent on making me a dull girl.”
“I think it’s quite exhilarating,” I counter, earning an eyebrow raise from Lizette. “Like a policeman or fireman or something. Using your power for good.” I nod to the crowd around us.
