Page 18 of Once Tempted

“Well, that is a severe disappointment, and I doubt there’s an imperfect bone in your body,” he said. His face grew serious once more. “When will I see you again? Tomorrow at breakfast, so I can distract you from reading the paper again?”

“Perhaps,” she admitted, although she doubted he would rise early enough for that. He was a perpetually late riser.

Minerva was still upset with her brother and didn’t want to ever be in the same room with him when there was food, dishes or plates, breakable things that she could throw at him.

Frederick growled softly. “Look, I don’t know what went on between you and your brother, but please know there is one person at this house party who would rather see you than him.” He leaned forward and pressed a hard kiss to her cheek. “I mean that. I will see you tomorrow somehow.”

Minerva considered swooning.

Frederick Stonebeck might have made a perfect suitor, if he wasn’t her brother’s best friend and so disinterested in marriage and proper ladies.

She did not meet his gaze, but they stayed standing together, heads bowed and touching, for several long heartbeats.

“Goodnight, sir,” she whispered, at a loss for how to drive him away a second time.

Frederick growled softly again, as if annoyed by her request. “Very well. You give me no choice but to retreat. Sweet dreams, Minnie dear. Think of me, and for heaven’s sake, come save me from boredom tomorrow.”

He left in a rush of stomping footsteps, leaving Minnie reeling with anguish for what might have been. When the party was over, she would never see Frederick again. They would never have that dance, never flirt, and certainly never kiss.

She might just miss Frederick most of all, too.