Fi rolled her eyes. “What else would I mean?”
“It was, um, nice.” Glory blushed so hard she feared her skin might melt from her bones.
“Just nice?” A divot appeared between Fi’s curving brows. “In that case, perhaps you ought to look elsewhere—”
“The kiss was perfect,” Glory admitted. “Indescribable, in a thrilling and tingly sort of way. Until Mr. Chen, kissing didn’t seem that interesting. Now I think about it all the time, and I cannot imagine kissing anyone else.”
Fi smiled. “In that case, I think you’ve found your match.”
“But I haven’t really.”
“Why not?”
Glory’s shoulders slumped. “Because Mr. Chen isn’t interested in me.”
“That is not possible.”
“It is entirely possible,” Glory countered. “He is a man of great character and purpose, you see. He has important responsibilities and doesn’t have time for a relationship.”
Recalling that she’d given Mr. Chen her word, she didn’t want to say more...although, truth be told, he hadn’t revealed all that much about his secret quest. What had been taken from him, and why did he want it back so badly? She would give her eyeteeth to know. Not to assuage her curiosity, but so that she could help him.
Even if there was to be no romantic involvement between them, friends stuck together. He, for instance, seemed intent upon teaching her skills to protect herself. Why couldn’t she return the favor and aid him in his pursuit?
“Did he say that he doesn’t have time for you?”
“More or less,” Glory said. “He apologized for kissing me. He said it was wrong of him to do so, even as part of a ploy, when he has no intentions in that regard. He claims it’s not because I’m undesirable, but because he has other commitments.”
“The old it’s not you, it’s me bit?” Fi asked with sympathy.
Glory gave a glum nod. “He did offer to be my shifu so that he could teach me to better protect myself. I said yes…” She trailed off when Fi clasped her hands in delight. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, dearest. You did everything right,” Fi exclaimed. “You’ll have Mr. Chen proposing in no time, if that is what you want.”
Confused, Glory said, “Perhaps you misunderstood what I said—”
“Oh, I understand perfectly. The gentleman in question kissed you. Then he apologized, vowing it will never happen again. Am I correct so far?”
“Yes.”
“Then he offered to be your shifu, which means he will be spending time with you. Lots of time and in close proximity, facts that he is surely aware of. And the reason he wants to teach you is because he wants to keep you safe. Ergo, he is being protective…which means he has formed an attachment to you!”
Glory’s jaw dropped at her friend’s gleeful logic.
“But…but he kept apologizing for kissing me,” she stammered. “He said he would never do it again.”
“My dear girl, gentlemen say things they don’t mean all the time. Do you recall what Hawksmoor said about me before we got together?”
Glory recalled how indignant Fi had been after she’d eavesdropped on the earl’s private conversation.
“He said you were the last lady he would be interested in.” Glory chuckled. “Poor fellow. He didn’t know what hit him.”
“Cupid’s arrow is capable of felling the mightiest of men,” Fi agreed with a twinkle. “And your Master Chen is no exception.”
Hope rattled against Glory’s ribs. “You truly think there is a chance that he might like me?”
“No man gives a woman an indescribably thrilling and tingly kiss unless he is attracted to her. And he certainly does not keep showing up and protecting her because he lacks interest.”
Hmm. Fi does have a point.
