“Not in these shoes,” Isabella said, sticking out her leg. She wore leather booties with heels at least three inches tall. “It’s a ten minute walk to the library and that’s nine too many. Besides, I have to run over to my parents’ house to get my cell phone. I can drop you off.”

“Nah, it’s in the opposite direction.”

“See you in a bit,” Isabella called out, before sliding in her car.

After waving good-bye, Daisy set off in the direction of the library. Streetlights flickered on and the wind blew. Wishing she’d driven her Honda, she shoved her hands in her pockets and quickened her pace.

Her phone vibrated just as she entered the library. She checked the screen as she hung up her coat.

Safe?–S

A strange feeling passed over her. Why did he care if she were safe? She hadn’t had anyone worry about her safety or lack thereof for over a year, besides Jules. Glen had always assumed she’d get where she was going to in one piece.

The only other person who’d ever worried about her was her momma. Which was why she was here tonight to help raise money for the library to buy more bookmobiles to service the rural parts of the county.

Those bookmobiles had been her mom’s only way to escape from the pain while she convalesced at home. Every Wednesday, just like clockwork, the bookmobile would show up at their house.

She glanced at her phone again.

Yes ~D

See you soon –S

The new head librarian rushed to her, and Daisy smiled. “Hi, I’m Daisy Barnes. Sorry, I haven’t had a chance to introduce myse—”

The woman shoved a stack of pamphlets into Daisy’s hands and dragged her by the arm to the entrance. “We can do introductions later. Right now, I need for you to stand here, look pretty, and…well, if you don’t mind, get that earl of yours to bid on something.”

“My what?”

The woman gave her a look. “Please, everyone is talking about y’all.”

“Everyone?” Daisy repeated, her voice weak. Apparently, the new librarian wasn’t that new. “But—”

“And don’t get me started about him leaving your place the other day, after an extended period of time. Or the bouquet of flowers he had delivered. Looks like romance runs in the family with those Romanov boys.”

Daisy blinked. “Ah, well, menus and stuff.”

“Showtime.” The woman smiled, talking through her teeth as the group of patrons walked inside. “Don’t forget to ask him to bid.”

Well, wasn’t that special. Everyone already thought they were a couple. It was too perfect. It was too much of a lie. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back against the glass wall behind her.

“Daisy,” the librarian hissed.

Her eyes snapped open and she took a deep breath. Time to focus on something that she could make a positive impact on.

***

Her earl showed up right before the presentation started.

Automatically smiling, she handed him the last pamphlet just as he leaned in to kiss her. She turned her head so it would land on her cheek, but somehow he ended up brushing his lips over hers. Her knees went as wobbly as a Jell-O mold.

Dang it.

“Are you feeling quite well?” he asked, brushing back a stray piece of hair. “You look a bit flushed, love.”

It seemed as though every person in the building stared at the two of them. This might actually work in her favor. There was no way he’d ever cause a scene in front of anyone, especially since the town’s only newspaper reporter was here with his camera.

Swallowing, she looked into his eyes. “You won the bet,” she whispered. “But I can’t go through with it.”

His eyes flashed, hot and bright like a flame. His fingers tightened, then loosened but didn’t let go. “We had an agreement.”

She lowered her gaze, staring at her flats and wishing she were anywhere but here. “I know, but I can’t… I can’t lie to the people I love.” Like Jules. She was betraying Jules with her lusty thoughts for a man she hardly knew. A man she had to pretend to like and love. A man she really wanted to hold and kiss her. Kiss her hand, her lips…every part of her.

“Let’s go to your place and talk,” Sebastian said softly.

“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “I promised I’d be here to help raise money for the bookmobiles.”

“Afterwards then.”

“Fine.”

“Look at me before everyone gets the wrong impression.” Slowly, she met his furious gaze and swallowed. He smiled, a baring of teeth that made her stomach drop. She’d really made him mad, and it was all her fault. “Are you allowed to sit?

“Yes,” she breathed.

He walked away, tugging her along. She almost ran to keep up with his long strides, sitting beside him in the second row. He let go of her fingers, only to place a possessive hand on her thigh.

Sebastian kept a neutral, if not bored, expression on his face, but inside he seethed. Promises. She had a bloody promise to keep to the damn library? What about to him? He’d taken up her challenge and convinced her best friend that he was a man in love, that he thought her to be adorable and fun to be around.

Things he thought constantly about her. Until now.

“Sebastian, let go of my leg,” Daisy said in his ear, lips brushing against the lobe and sending waves of torturous pleasure down his neck. “I need to give a speech.”

He allowed his hand to fall away, but he could still feel the firm shape of her thigh under his palm. Daisy scooted by, the scent of honey and vanilla hitting him.

How pretty she looked, all soft and feminine, in her usual cardigan and swingy skirt. She wore her long hair in a loose bun, but the chopsticks holding it in place were a vibrant blue instead of this morning’s black.

She walked to the front of the room and began to speak, telling the audience why she valued the bookmobiles’ services so much. She spoke of her mother’s battle with cancer and how books had helped them both get through the not-so-good days. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room (except for his) by the time she finished.

His anger flowed out of him, like a ship sailing on the tide. Of course, this actually meant something to her. It served a greater purpose than his position on the board or even her insurance bills. She was truly one of those people that cared about others and tried to make the smallest of differences.

With a smile, she gestured to her table. “So tonight, I hope you’ll be generous when you bid on a year’s supply of cupcakes, personally baked and delivered by me once a month.”

“Two million,” he called out.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to—”

“Three.”

“Like you got three million dollars sitting in the bank, Noah,” someone called out and the crowd laughed.

Craning his neck, Sebastian found the arse who dared to bid against him. Some dark-haired bloke wearing a navy shirt who’d crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.

In that moment, Sebastian didn’t care if the man had any money or not. “Four,” he said as faced the front once more. He wasn’t about to let some other man eat her cupcakes.

“All yours, Romanov,” the man said with a low laugh. “Must be some damn good cupcakes.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Daisy’s hazel eyes narrowed, her hands fisting on her hips. “It’s supposed to be silent, you two.”

“Quite so, darling.” Pulling out his phone, Sebastian texted Daisy his offer and winked when he was done.

She glanced down, and then held her phone out for the other woman to read. The tall redhead didn’t waste any time as she yelled, “Sold.”

The town’s online reporter took Sebastian’s picture, and then gave him a thumbs-up. Brilliant. The Board would be pleased once they got wind of it, and he knew without a doubt they were keeping tabs on him.

“Let’s have a round of applause for the Earl of Spenserfield’s generous donation.”

“What can I say, except, I adore her cupcakes.” Rising to his feet, he collected a stunned Daisy and headed out the door. “Darling, a word.”

“I can’t leave. I have things to do. Hors d'oeuvres to replenish.” Once outside and away from nosy stares, she tried to pull out of his embrace, but he wouldn’t let her. “My purse and coat—”

He kissed her protesting mouth, his hands cupping her shoulders.

She melted against him, her arms winding around his neck as she pressed closer. The feel of her curvaceous body against his threatened to break through his armor of self-control. Every intention of not initiating their next kiss completely flew out the window. Hell, those intentions flew so hard and swift that they shattered the glass.

“Say no. Tell me to stop, and I will.” He dug his fingers into her skin and she whimpered, then slipped her tongue inside of his mouth. Their tongue slid against each other, hot and wet.

“I can’t say no,” she whispered against his lips. “I can’t tell you to stop.”

Some cruel part of him had to ask, “What about Jules?”

Leaning back in his arms, she shivered, hazel eyes glazed with passion. For him. “What did you say?”

“Jules, the man you sworn to be saving your kisses for,” he said, cursing himself for even bringing Jules up. But here he was again—jealous.

“Screw you, Sebastian Romanov,” she spat, her eyes blazing as she shoved him away from her.

The cold March wind brushed the exposed skin of his neck, but he was too damn heated from their kiss. She shivered again, and he felt like an ass for not doing something about it the first time. Hell, he was an ass for everything he’d just said to her.

“I’m sorry.” Taking off his coat, he draped it around her. “If you will excuse me, I’ll be on my way back to England.” He turned to walk away.

“Wait,” she cried out and he stopped. “Why did you pay so much for my cupcakes?”

Examining his motives or even explaining them to anyone was unthinkable, but this was Daisy. She deserved the truth, or at least as much as he could give her, and now that he’d messed everything up, he’d go back to being Jules Westmoreland, apologize for being an ass, and love her from afar while making excuse after excuse about why he couldn’t ever meet her in person.

“I bid on the blasted cupcakes, because this event was important to you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Because you were crying and talking about your mum.”

Her pretty eyes searched his face. “Really?”

“Truly.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Do what?” he asked, hoping against hope she really did mean what she said.

“I’ll be your fiancée,” she said.

Screw Jules Westmoreland. “Would you take the chance on getting to know me?” He was taking a big risk by saying this, by purposefully not answering her texts for the past day and a half. He’d been in agony over it, but he was, at heart, a risk-taker. She blinked up at him, and he could practically see her mind working. She was weighing and assessing him. Weighing and assessing what Isabella had said tonight about Jules not being who he said he was, while he, Sebastian, was in the flesh.

Yes, he’d eavesdropped and he’d do it again if he thought it would help him.

“I think I’d like that,” she said slowly.

Victory was his. “Have a good night, Daisy.”

“What about your coat?” she asked.

“I’ll pop down to your flat tomorrow to retrieve it.”

“Night, Sebastian,” she said.

“I prefer Bastian, remember?”

“Yes.” She smiled, and his heart turned over in his chest. “Night, Bastian.”

The urge to kiss her again came upon him so quickly that he took a step towards her. A deep breath sustained his self-control. “See you tomorrow.”

Pivoting, he nearly sprinted to his car and got in, driving away, but he couldn’t help but glance up at his rearview mirror.

Daisy still stood where he’d left, beneath a halo of light, his coat wrapped around her.

Chapter Fourteen

Lifting the collar of his coat, Daisy buried her nose in the fabric. It smelled so good. So him.

She was so in trouble.

Sighing, she turned to head back inside the library. Just as she pushed open the first set of door, Isabella barreled into her. Daisy grabbed her, Sebastian’s coat sliding to the floor. They knelt at the same time, her best friend handing her the coat.

“Late for your flight?” Daisy asked with a smile. Then she got a good look at Isabella and gasped. Her tawny eyes were rimmed in red and her face was all splotchy. “What happened?”

Fat tears rolled down Isabella’s cheeks. “He l-left me for that woman. I got a text message with their Vegas Wedding picture. The coward.” She sniffed and looked up at the ceiling, then back at Daisy. “You and Haven were so right about him. I’m so stupid.”

Heart breaking for her best friend, Daisy helped Isabella to her feet and wrapped her arms around her. She stroked her hair. “You’re not stupid and it’s not your fault the rat bastard left you.”

“They’re all rat bastards. Every last one of them,” Isabella said, her voice shaky. “Not Sebastian, of course. I’m sure you two are perfect for each other.”

The door opened and Daisy turned her head. Isabella’s older brother walked in. All tall, dark-haired and devastatingly handsome, but without the swagger of someone who needed the world to acknowledge it. Growing up, Daisy had a huge crush on him, but he’d only had eyes for Summer Holland.