Page 21 of The Mysterious Miss Lydia
Lydia smiled, and with Kitty in tow, she headed toward the park, and back to her favorite tree.
She’d only just made herself comfortable under the thick branches, Kitty once again situated on her bench, when a voice behind her made her jump.
“I was hoping I’d see you here again.”
She whirled about, her red hair flying into her face before she swatted it away with annoyance. “You,” she breathed.
He leaned against the trunk beside her, all tall and large. And while he didn’t exactly imprison her against the tree, his large frame was intimidating all the same.
His words registered belated.
He’d hoped to see her.
Her heart thumped dangerously fast. The air felt too thin. Her belly was swooping and soaring and...
This couldn’t be real.
This didn’t happen in real life.
And yet, there he was. The most handsome, dashing man she’d ever met. A hero from one of her books come to life.
I was hoping I’d see you here again.
“How...”
She trailed off when his smile lifted on one side revealing a dimple. Oh dear.
That just wasn’t fair.
“I must admit, it’s difficult to track down a mysterious woman when one does not know her name.” He arched a brow. “Are you willing to tell me your name yet?”
“I...”Miss Lydia Baker. The answer was simple but the moment her gaze locked with his, the words scattered, leaving her mouth empty and her tongue thoroughly tied.
But then... Maybe she shouldn’t answer, anyway. He was a stranger. And one who’d apparently tracked her down intentionally. Her brows drew down. No, that couldn’t be right.
He looked over her shoulder. “Are you alone?”
Warning bells rang in her mind. Did he think she was some vulnerable prey, perhaps?
Her father had warned her about men who’d prey on her docile nature. His gaze was still diverted and so she managed, “Did you seek me out?”
He looked far too pleased. “Indeed I did. As I mentioned, not easy to do since I know so little about you. I had to hope that you frequent his park often and hadn’t just come here to follow me the other day.”
“I...”
He leaned in a bit as if eagerly awaiting her next words.
So much pressure. Her tongue swelled to double its size, she was sure of it.I was here first!That was what she meant to say. Twice now he’d made it seem like she’d been following him.
She hadn’t.
But nowhewas followingher. Or...waiting for her?
“Why?” she said.
He blinked. “Why what?”
“Why...” She gestured to him and then the tree in what had to be the world’s worst pantomime.
