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“Yes. And other places.”
Ellie dared not ask what those other places were. Instead, she allowed the soft kisses he touched to her mouth, before turning around and slipping from the room, aware of her silly smile and the burning warmth inside her heart.
CHAPTER12
Acouple of days after the ball, Lucien stared at the small box atop the desk and the envelope beside it. His heart leaped when he saw his name scrawled in Elle’s elegant handwriting. Lucien sat before his desk and plucked up the letter, ignoring his sister curled onto the sofa pretending to read a book as she stared avidly at the small box.
Dear Lucien,
This is my favorite cake.
Yours,
Elle
Bloody hell. That she wanted him to enjoy a treat that she loved did odd things to his insides. His heart was dancing like crazy, and he could not stop the smile that touched his mouth. He had been worrying that he’d scared her off with his passions and his absolute declaration that she belonged to him. She was a lady of quality, and he always had to keep that in mind. Still, the last two days as he waited to see if she would reach out almost damn well killed him. He had buried himself with his numbers and the account books of their business, sensing it was important to grant her space to sort out her thinking. He had all but implied he wanted an affair with her until she committed to marriage with a man who was considered suitable for her. Something vicious snarled inside of him at the thought of ever letting Elle go, but he had to swallow down the feeling until he could come up with a plan.
The door opened and Ollie said, “Finally, you are here. I have wanted to know what is in the damn box. Where is the ribbon that tied it?”
Lucien glanced over at his sister, who had the grace to blush.
“I nearly gave into temptation and opened it, but I only removed the ribbon, Luc,” she said contritely.
“So what is in the box,” Ollie asked, biting into an apple with a loud crunch.
“None of your business,” Lucien said, setting the box aside and reaching for the ledgers accounting every invoice, money or bet that changed hands or had been placed last night in the den.
Vi put down the book and jumped to her feet. “Oh, please, Luc! Do not be so mean to us.”
His sister showed no decorum as she ran over and tried to swipe his box.
“It is cake,” he said with some exasperation.
“Cake?” Vi and Ollie said together. They shared a glance that Lucien could not interpret. Nor did he care.
“I am here to work, so be silent while—”
“What kind of cake?”
“What is this about a cake?” Edmond asked as he entered their large office. “It was not me who ate your spiced rum cake, Lucien.”
He sighed as their sister hurriedly filled Edmond in on his gift.
His older brother frowned. “Why would she send you cake?”
Lucien couldn’t help laughing. His siblings would be the death of him one day. He opened the box and was surprised to see Edmond joining Vi and Ollie in gathering around his desk to gawk. He stared at a large yet perfectly sliced chocolate cake. It had three layers and in between each layer was a heavy filling of dark chocolate icing. The top was also spread liberally, and Lucien found his mouth watering for a bite.
“I have never seen a more perfectly sliced cake,” Vi whispered. “I do not think she had a servant cut it, Luc. Your Miss Fairbanks did this herself.”
“You think so?” he asked, leaning forward to stare at the cake. “The slice does look elegant.”
Edmond shot him a sardonic look. “You are both ridiculous.”
Still, his brother stared at the cake with the look of a man who hadn’t eaten in days. “I am not giving you all any,” Lucien said firmly.
“Luc!” Vi cried, clearly appalled. “If you do not, I will never ever bake you any more spiced rum cake.”
He thought about this for a few seconds. “That is fine.”
