Find Me Alastar(44)

Henry’s eyes hold hers and then he looks around the stable to make sure nobody can hear their conversation. “Elizabeth, I cannot meet you. Why would you want to walk with me?” he whispers. Even though she has been visiting him for weeks in the stables, he still cannot make sense of it.

Elizabeth’s face falls. “I just want to spend time with you, I want to get to know you.”

“Why?” He frowns.

She hesitates. “Because I like you.”

“You like me?” He smirks as if not believing her.

She smiles and nods quickly. “Very much. Please tell me that you like me, too.”

“Elizabeth,” he whispers. “We could never be like that. I am below your station. You are to marry a duke. Your father would never allow it.”

Elizabeth steps back from him and her back straightens in annoyance.” I don’t want to marry a duke. A title means nothing in my eyes. I shall run away as soon as I get the chance.” She steps forward, grabbing his hand in hers.

His eyes hold hers.

“Please.” She smiles hopefully.

“Elizabeth, you know I like you but you need to stop this. I am not allowed to have you.” The truth is… he has thought of nothing else but her lately.

“But do you want me?” She dares herself to ask as she holds his hand in hers.

Henry’s eyes drop to her lips and his palm rises to rest against her cheek. “More than anything, I want you,” he whispers.

“Kiss me,” she breathes as she looks up at him.

Henry’s eyes fly around the stable and back to hers.

“I need you to kiss me.” She smiles lovingly up at him.

This crazy girl with her romantic notions will be the death of him, literally. Henry leans in and kisses her, his gentle hands cupping her face.

Elizabeth pulls back and her eyes dance with delight. “Meet me this afternoon at the stream by the bottom paddock.”

Henry frowns. “It’s too dangerous. I will be strung up if I am caught with you alone.”

She leans in and kisses him again “Say you will. Rules are meant to be broken.”

He swallows the lump in his throat as he contemplates his decision, knowing this is risky.

“I will meet you at three?” she whispers hopefully.

Henry smiles at the ground, kicking the dirt with his shoe as he nods.

Elizabeth smiles broadly. “I shall dream of you all day, Henry.”

Henry smiles bashfully. “Goodbye, Elizabeth. Now go inside before you get me into trouble.”





Emerson


“Can I see you tonight?” Mark asks hopefully.

Please give up. I’m not interested.

We are in the kitchen at work and I am making a coffee. He is standing behind me, pretending to wait for the kettle. Every time Mark sees me go somewhere in the office, he’s right behind me in five seconds flat. Not even the lunchroom or photocopier are safe zones. “Mark...” How do I put this? “I want to be friends and get to know each other a bit more.” My eyes hold his. Please, please get the hint. I don’t want to have to come out and say I don’t like you. I do have to work with him, after all, but then I don’t want to lead him on, either.

“You want to get to know me and be friends?” he repeats.

I smile. “Yes.”

He grins and stands really close to me. “So you are after a friend with benefits kind of thing?”

What?

“Ahem,” a female voice interrupts. We both turn around sheepishly. Great. It’s Stephanie from reception... again. This chick is busting my every move.

“S-steph,” Mark stammers. “How are you?”

She looks at him blankly and raises a brow. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

His eyes widen and flicker back to me. Christ, they are still on together.

“Steph, let’s go into my office.” He tries to get her away from me before she says anything else.

I smirk and drop my head. Busted, *.

I walk back to my desk. “Your phone has been going off,” Travis tells me as he types.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to turn it on silent.” I pick it up and swipe the screen to see six missed calls from Alastar.

My heart does somersaults. Shit, what does he want? I haven’t heard from him since our fight on the weekend and it’s Wednesday now. Should I call him back?

I think for a moment. No. He has been as ass. If he wants to contact me, he can keep on trying. I get back to work, feeling a little happier, when my desk phone rings.

“Hello, Emerson speaking.” I smile.

“Why aren’t you answering my calls?” The thick Irish accent barks.

I smile as I lose my ability to think, remaining silent.

“I’m outside the front of your work building now. Come and see me for a moment, please?”

I frown. Huh? “I can’t leave work.”

“Get down here now or I will come up to your desk.”

He wouldn’t.

“Listen.” My eyes dart around all my work colleagues who are too busy working to notice me. “I know you are a spoilt Irish twat, but some of us have to work. What do you want to say?” I whisper.

“I’d rather say it in person.”