Page 862 of One More Kiss

He called over his shoulder. “Consider this my yes.”

Like he had a choice.

Before, he’d had no desire to attend. He had to, but now he wanted to, if only to learn more about Lucinda Danvers.

He spied her at the front door of the building, heading out to the spot they’d first met less than an hour ago.

The place where he’d desired to pull her to the side of the building and hide in the bushes and kiss all her lipstick off.

And now…he still craved such a kiss, but feared more for his life.

“Miss Danvers, wait, please!”

She turned to him, then hastened through the door she’d opened.

He caught up to her right outside the door, gently closing his hand around her shoulder.

She pushed against his hand so hard he fell back a good foot.

“Leave me alone. Please.” The last word sounded forced, almost choked out.

He moved around to face her, and noticed the shine in her eyes.

Tears. But for what?

“I’m sorry, Miss Danvers, I’m not sure what’s going on, but I would be pleased to meet with you soon about the play. It’s never too early to start planning.”

She scoffed. “True. I’ve been planning for months already. Likely before you even knew about the job here.”

Well, then.

“Fair enough. But I would like to catch up. Can you meet me in my office tomorrow morning— ”

“Your office. Your office?” Her loud voice turned the heads of the groundskeepers pruning the garden in the square twenty yards away.

“Yes, my office. Miss Danvers, I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend or hurt you, but please—”

“What have you done? Do you really want to know?”

Her murderous expression dared him to answer.

“You stole my job. That was supposed to be my office. I never want to set foot in your office under any circumstances.”

She pivoted on one heel, stumbled, but regained her footing quickly.

She did not look back. And this time, he heeded Doris’s advice and did not follow.

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