Page 35 of A Stranger’s Kiss

She fell silent, keenly aware of his lithe, muscular form striding so easily at her side as they crossed the park. It was only when they stopped in the street before her music shop that she spoke again.

“There is the door,” she said, tilting her head to the side, “scarce ten feet away.”

Nicholas gave an easy laugh. “As politeness decrees, I should pay your father my respects ere I leave.”

Olivia tensed and searched his face. “Surely, you have gathered my father isn’t well, my lord.”

There was only kindness in his eyes as he replied, “All the more reason to pay my respects.” As she slipped her hand free of his arm, he reached for her fingers and gave them a squeeze before nodding at the roof. “At the very least, I must inspect the roofers’ work.”

She couldn’t deny that request. “Very well.”

He followed her through the shop and into the back. As she stepped into the parlor, Mrs. Lambert looked up, surprised.

“You’re back, so soon?”

The soft tinkling of the piano spared Olivia a reply, but even without the distraction, she didn’t need to answer. The tightening of Mrs. Lambert’s mouth indicated that she understood that, again, something undesirable had happened.

“Soon, your luck will change, lass,” the old woman muttered.

The tinkling of the piano stopped, and Olivia glanced over to her father. His fingers rested on the ivory keys.

“Olivia, child,” her father said, “I swear, you’ve grown from this morning.”

“Hardly, father.” Olivia smiled and crossed the small room to straighten his hat before turning to Nicholas, who remained standing just inside the door. “Father, this is Lord Nicholas Blair.”

Nicholas bowed and stepped into the room. “Good evening, Mr. Mackenzie.”

Her father eyed him, puzzled. “Lord Blair…” Then, his eyes lit. “You came to the shop, did you not? Wanting music?”

Olivia blinked, surprised. Her father rarely remembered anyone. It had taken him a good year or more before he remembered Mrs. Lambert.

“Why, yes,” Nicholas replied with a dry smile. “I purchased a variety of works.” He shot Olivia an amused glance.

“Then, you play the violin?” her father queried.

“Nae.”

“The piano?”

“Nae.”

“What instrument, then?”

Olivia held her breath, tears misting her lashes at her father’s clarity. That made twice of late and so close together.

“I must admit, Mr. Mackenzie, that I am not musically inclined,” Nicholas responded with a rueful smile.

Her father knit his brows. “Why ever did you purchase the music, then?”

The way Nicholas’ eyes locked onto hers made goosebumps rise on her arms, and looking straight into her eyes, he answered, “Mr. Mackenzie, your daughter has a way about her that’s rather convincing.”

Her father laughed, a deep laugh that Olivia hadn’t heard in years. She turned to him, her throat closing with emotion, but as she watched, the mask of confusion fell once again.

“Olivia, child, you’ve grown,” he murmured, then he began to play.

Olivia brushed tears away with the back of her hand. No matter. It was a gift to see him again, even for those few minutes.

“If you will excuse me,” she heard Nicholas say. “I must inspect the roof.”