Page 17 of A Summer Romance
When she had sent the note, Breana hadn’t been sure whether Theo would meet her or not.She had grown impatient, tired of waiting for a serendipitous moment when they could be together, just the two of them, so she had taken matters into her own hands.
She understood why it was difficult, and she had been willing to wait up to a point.She needed tobewith him, even if it was only for a few minutes.
She missed him.
Now she stood by the old pear tree, the same one where she had waited for Francis.She had been a very different girl then, her head full of silliness and fantasies.
And now?Well, it wasn’t as if she had learned to love making jam and weeding the vegetable garden, but she understood these were tasks that had to be done.She was helping Abby far more than she used to, and Abby—not the most emotive of people—had been so grateful she had given her a hug.Which made it feel as if her efforts were worthwhile.But there were times when she missed her daydreams.Lately she had learned to channel them into the more practical parts of her life, and that had felt good.
For instance, Theo’s farm and how she could help him to improve his kitchen garden.When she had mentioned some of her ideas to Will he had shrugged and said he was too busy to listen to her.That had hurt, because Breana was genuinely trying to be helpful.
Theo strolled toward her, his tall figure moving gracefully, and to her relief he was smiling.The breeze stirred her hair—she had forgotten her bonnet—and she could feel the chilly promise of autumn in the air.Summer would be over soon, the year moving on as it always did, but Breana would never forgetthissummer.
“Breana,” Theo said as he reached her.His gaze slid over her.She was wearing the same blue dress she’d worn when she was waiting for Francis, and her cheeks felt flushed with the pleasure of seeing him here.“I am so glad to see you.I meant to visit, but I have been—”
“Busy,” she cut in.“I know.I understand.But I needed to see you without Will talking about improving your sheep or cows or whatever it is this week.”
He laughed, looking so carefree her heart swelled with happiness for him.“It will get better,” he assured her.“When the winter comes, there will be less to do, so long as none of the tenants’ roofs spring a leak.”
“You know, Will isn’t the only one with ideas.”
“Oh?”He gave her a puzzled look but at least he wasn’t telling her he was too busy to listen.
“I can’t say I care for half the things the two of you talk about, but I know a little about gardening.There are many crops you can grow in the winter rather than leaving the ground fallow.Not just Brussel sprouts,” she pulled a face, “but other more interesting vegetables like…” She thought a moment, and then smiled.“Like leeks and parsnips, even lettuce grows well in the cold, if a little slowly.You could make a walled garden, to keep out the worst of the weather.”
She could see it in her imagination, and was so busy explaining it to him she didn’t realise she had been monopolising the conversation.
But Theo didn’t appear bored.He looked impressed.“Hasn’t Will followed your advice?”
Breana’s smile went awry.“Everyone is always so busy at Starling Hall and they think my head is in the clouds most of the time.”
“You have a vivid imagination,” he said gently, “but that is one of the reasons I enjoy your company.You lift me out of my hum drum life.And your idea about the garden is a good one.I will put it into practice exactly as you described it.”
Breana flushed with pleasure “Perhaps I can help?”It was a question because despite knowing what she felt, she wasn’t sure he felt the same.The words had never been spoken between them.
“I would like nothing more.In fact, I wondered…” He hesitated.“Is it too soon to ask if you might do me the honour…”
Breana stepped closer until they were only inches apart.“It isn’t too soon,” she said.
His dark eyes warmed and he bent his head.Their lips touched, a mere brush, but it felt like a promise.She slipped her arms about his neck and he rested his hands at her waist.He leant in again.This time his lips pressed to hers, his tongue sliding along the bottom one, so that she gasped in surprise and pleasure.
This kiss was longer and certainly more masterful, full of intent.Not here and not now, but for the future.When it was over, she rested her cheek against his chest, breathing in that cologne.
“Breana,” he said, his voice so close it was a rumble in his chest.“I have something to tell you.Do you remember the night of the Spring ball?You went into the library to hide from Francis.”
She stiffened.How did he know about that?She swallowed and peeped up at him through her lashes.She could deny it, make up a story, but she was done with that.“I remember,” she said.“I hid in the cupboard.There was a stone head with snakes instead of hair.”
He laughed softly.“Yes, an ugly thing.So youdoremember?”
“I hid there for ages, waiting for Francis, before I knew the sort of man he was.Eventually he came and kissed me there.It was my first such kiss.I suppose he told you all about it.”But even as she said the words, doubts began to form.“Although, he kissed me in the rose garden some weeks later and it wasn’t nearly as nice.”Her eyes widened, a new theory emerging.“It wasyou, wasn’t it?Just now, when you kissed me, it reminded me of that night in the library.”
Theo gave a laugh that was close to a groan.
She buried her face in his chest.“Itwasyou!”
“Yes, it was.”He tipped her chin up and spoke in a heartfelt way that made her want to melt into a warm puddle.“I saw you go in there and didn’t want Francis to take advantage of you.So I went after you to warn you off.However, before I could declare who I was, you suggested I kiss you.And, in a moment of weakness, I did.I apologise, it was…” He shook his head.“The truth is, I had been wanting to kiss you for a long time, Breana.Long before the library.But you seemed to prefer my brother.”
“Only because I didn’t know him properly.And, at the time, I didn’t know you at all.”Then, feeling a smile warming her face, “Have you really wanted to kiss me for so long?”
