Noah’s face hovered just over her shoulder, his words gentle in her ear. “Now, I want you to think of something that might entice someone to court you other than being a wealthy heiress.”
“My winning humor,” she said, her words heavy with sarcasm.
Noah sighed, and his breath tickled her neck. “Fine. Let us start with your humor. But be serious, please.”
She stared at the foaming water, the sound of the crashing waves filling her ears. She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t make the words come. Shaking her head, she closed her mouth. “I feel silly. I cannot.”
“No one else is here. It is only you and me.”
She closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her. If only that were the truth, for she would give anything for that future. Just the two of them. Forever.
“Fine,” Noah said. She hadn’t realized how long she had been silent until he spoke. Noah let her go and stepped up beside her. “I shall do it.” He cleared his throat and tipped his chin up. He then cupped his hands about his mouth and yelled at the top of his lungs, “Hannah Gibbons is the most humorous young lady of my acquaintance!”
Hannah smacked his shoulder as her cheeks flamed. “Noah, stop it.”
A grin split his face as he turned to her. “Then you need to do it. Otherwise, I will keep at it.”
Hannah scowled at him but spun toward the bluff again. “Very well.” She rolled her shoulder. “I shall do it.” She swallowed, feeling very much like a fool. How could she bring herself to do such a thing? But if she did not, then Noah would. And goodness knows what he would say.
“I have no idea what to say,” she admitted, glancing over at him.
He pursed his lips, making her chest jerk with a laugh.
“I just thought of five things in five seconds. It is not so very hard.”
“You did not think of five things,” she said in disbelief.
He nodded. “Yes, I did. Now, first I want you to yell that you are brilliant.”
“Brilliant?”
“Yes. We can begin with your knowledge of languages.”
That seemed harmless enough. She faced the waters, taking a bracing breath. “I am proficient in three languages!” she yelled. The wind seemed to blow her words back at her, and she laughed at how ridiculous it seemed. “Noah, I cannot keep doing this,” she said, lowering her voice to a normal level.
“Yes you can. Now—” he held up a finger “—I want you to yell about how much you enjoy helping others.”
“I do not think that is a fair claim.”
“Nonsense. You helped me.” He turned to her, his rich brown eyes seeming to beckon her closer.
She swallowed, trying to formulate a response. To find a way to be honest with him without giving herself entirely away. “You were worthy of my help, Noah. How could I not?”
“See?” He held his hand out, gesturing toward the water. “Now say it. Say it for all the world to hear.”
She shook her head yet turned to do as he said. Onlyhecould get her to do such ridiculous things. And while she felt like a fool, she couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her lips. “I enjoy helping Lord Noah Bradley!”
“No,” he said, then yelled, “she is helpful to all!”
A euphoric feeling rose within her as she seemed to detach from reality. “Now what?” she asked, closing her eyes and letting herself fall deeper into her mind. A place where people’s opinions did not exist, and she was exactly as she said now.
“Now,” Noah said, his voice suddenly closer, his breath warm on her cheek. “I want you to say you are beautiful.”
Her breathing wavered, but she kept her eyes closed. If she looked at Noah now, her eyes might tell him more than she wished him to know. “Beautiful?” she whispered.
“Of course.” His voice was almost indignant, causing her heart to swirl in her chest.
“I am bea—” she began to yell, but her words caught. “Beautiful,” she whispered.
