She muttered a few words of annoyance under her breath. The last thing their family needed during the festive season was a love affair that could lead to whispers and raised eyebrows at every family and extended table .
With another quick glance over her shoulder to ensure no one else was following , Cecilia slipped behind the frosty bushes, herbreath visible in the chilly air as she strained to keep pace with the lovebirds.
The world around her was a winter wonderland, with snow blanketing the ground and icicles hanging from the branches like crystal chandeliers. Just as she thought she had them in sight, her foot snagged on a hidden root, and she gasped as she tumbled forward in the snow, bracing for impact.
Instead of a chilly landing, she collided with something warm and solid, and a surprisingly sturdy set of arms wrapped around her. Startled, she looked up, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the unexpected encounter.
Her heart raced as she found herself face-to-face with a stranger, a tall figure who seemed to embody the very essence of winter.
He had an athletic physique, light brown hair tousled by the wind, and dark blue eyes that were as fearsome yet gorgeous as the night sky. Despite his unpleasant expression, it could not be denied that the man was flawlessly handsome.
Heavens!.
For a moment, time stood still. Cecilia could feel warmth spreading through her despite the biting cold. She blinked, caught off guard by the magnetic pull of his gaze as she recalled the actuality of the situation.
“I’m so sorry!” she stammered at last, her voice barely above a whisper, as she tried to regain her composure.
The man’s face, however, remained contorted in a frown, yet he extended a hand to help her up. Their fingers brushed, and she felt a jolt of electricity course between her nerves, igniting an unexpected spark that made her forget all about how she’d ended up in that situation in the first place.
Her heart raced, the warmth blooming in her chest. “I didn’t mean to-to intrude,” she managed again, feeling a wave of embarrassment and exhilaration.
Her cheeks flushed as she scrambled to steady herself on her feet, “It was not at all my intention to bump into you, it is dark, I could not quite see my surroundings. T-Thank you still for helping?—”
“This tactic of yours to engage me has been highly overused,” The stranger’s dark blue eyes narrowed, his expression suddenly settling on contempt as he cut in sharply, his voice dripping with disdain. “It shows a remarkable lack of intellect.”
Huh?
Cecilia blinked, taken aback by not only the depth of his voice but such suddenly harsh words. “W-what? Tactic? I-I,” she replied, shaking her head as if to clear the fog of confusion, “I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
The man scoffed, crossing his arms over his broad chest, his stature towering over her. “I shall make it clear for you then. If you are truly that desperate for a match, know this. You will not find one with me,” he spoke bluntly, the corners of his mouth curling downwards further with each word.
Cecilia’s heart raced, her mind racing to catch up with the accusation. For a moment, she stood frozen, confusion etched on her face. Then, realization hit her like a snowball in the face, and her eyes widened in shock.
“Excuse me, are you saying I’m trying to… compromise you?” she exclaimed, her voice rising slightly in disbelief. The blush creeping up her cheeks felt like fire against the cold.
“Have you not made it too obvious?” he replied . “You stumble into me, and now that you’re caught, you’re stumbling over your words. It’s painfully predictable.”
“I’m not interested in you!” Cecilia shot back, indignation flaring within her. “I just tripped! I was trying to, only trying t-to…” She took a step closer, her fists clenched at her sides, the urgency of the moment amplifying her frustration.
She couldn’t say she was following her brother who was with a lady this late, unchaperoned. “I stepped out for some air!” She spluttered weakly.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Excuses, excuses. And somehow you manage to not be able to keep your balance while doing so?”
Cecilia’s heart pounded. “You don’t know anything about me, sir,” she argued, her voice rising in pitch. “I would ask you refrain from such statements as I am certainly not some desperate girl looking for attention.”
“Then how come you are here, making a fool of yourself?” he shot back, his gaze piercing through her defenses. “What lady would step out this late if not one itching for dramatics?”
She inhaled sharply, the weight of his words pressing down on her. “I have stated my reason,” she felt frustration bubbling over. “However, if you wish to stand there still and judge me, have in mind that you could not be farther from wrong.”
“What’s so wrong in acknowledging poor efforts to seduce me?” The man narrowed his gaze at her. “Do not feel ashamed now that your elaborate plan has been seen through. You never truly had a chance, anyway.”
“Why would I plan this?” Cecilia shook her head in disbelief. “Do you think I have nothing better to do than chase after an… an obnoxious man I do not know?”
“Obnoxious?” He raised a brow, causing her to gulp slightly, struggling to keep a blaze in her eyes.
Yet, even as she stood her ground, she couldn’t ignore the way her heart raced at his proximity, the warmth radiating from his body igniting an unfamiliar tension within her. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, attempting to shield herself from the piercing scrutiny of his gaze.
He leaned in suddenly, his dark orbs narrowing as if trying to dissect her very soul. “You’re out here alone at this hour. What else could it mean? It’s not exactly a coincidence, is it?”
