Page 44

Blast and bother.

Lilly had not meant to say that out loud.

Now Zander would be utterly impossible.

He bent his head and whispered, “What about you?”

Good Lord.

Of all the gall.

Was he asking if she thought him handsome?

The brazen cad, fishing for compliments.

“I…” She choked on her response, but after closing her eyes for three seconds and dredging up her equanimity, managed in a calm voice to ask, “What do you mean, what about me?”

His nearness discombobulated her.

“Did you sign a code of conduct too, Lilly?”

Of course, she had.

When she was a teacher under Mrs. Reubins’s authority.

But—darn the oversight—she had forgotten to have Zander sign a code of conduct. She would remedy that today, by Jove.

“You are not going to bait me, Zander Brooks.” After dropping four more greenish-yellow apples into the bushel basket, she squinted at him. “Tomorrow, we are going to the village and ordering you new clothing.”

Clothes that fit and do not practically beg women to lust after you.

He quirked an eyebrow, the glint in his gray eye indecipherable.

“Did you mean to say that aloud, Lilly?”

Sixteen

Still in the orchard. Still Sunny. Still afternoon

Ten hilarious heartbeats later

Zander could not contain his broad grin as he awaited Lilly’s reply. If he was not an incorrigible cad, he would have ignored her, speaking her thoughts aloud.

But what was the fun in that?

Besides, his masculine pride swelled at her accidental admission, and when she was as flustered as she was now, she was quite adorable. Even in the atrocious dowdy brown gown, she had probably donned for the outdoor work.

Regardless, try as she might to appear like a drab wren or a dull pipit, Lilibet Granger was much more like a starling or grackle with breathtaking, iridescent colors shining forth in the right light.

One just had to be observant and look for her hidden beauty.

Just now, Lilly gaped at him, wholly horrified, for a half dozen seconds before slapping her hand across her mouth and shaking her head.

Leaning nearer and savoring her delicate fragrance, Zander whispered for her ears alone, “Do not fret. I shall not tell anyone you lust after me.”

Her brown eyes grew rounder and rounder and then sparks lit the irises as ire replaced her shock and embarrassment.

“I do not!” She poked a finger at his chest.