“Then let me escort you to your fiancé,” I insisted, starting to step away, but Sophia clasped my hand.
“Let’s not play games,” Sophia insisted. “I know what I’ve come here for.” Before I was able to tell her she’d better think again, the music ended. Couples around us clapped, as I immediately walked away from her, not giving her a second glance. It was rude as hell, but this charade was over.
“Enjoy your dance?” my asshole brother asked, and I glared at him. Madelyn grinned ear to ear; she obviously didn’t feel the tension.
“Very much,” Sophia replied. Femme Fatale, the woman couldn’t, or didn’t, want to take a hint.
“Son of a bitch,” I mumbled. Madelyn stood next to George, which confirmed that he didn’t speak to her yet. George introduced Sophia and Madelyn, and I scowled at him.
“Will you grab me some punch, Lord Cranfield?” Sophia inquired, under hooded eyelashes. I wanted to tell her I wasn’t her lap dog, but I was open to getting away from her...without the punch. I turned to leave, almost running into Ava.
“Hello.” She smiled. Her cheeks were flushed from dancing, and cheerful green eyes looked up at me.
“Avie,” I replied, my lips quirking. A piece of her red hair fell along the side of her face, and I held back the impulse to swipe it away. She looked…amazing.
“Escaping?” she accused, nodding behind me.
I shook my head. “Not anymore.” Her smile widened.
“Did you need help, my Lord?” Sophia probed, appearing at my side.
“Just speaking with Lady Barlow,” I replied, keeping my eyes locked with Ava.
“Lady Barlow?” Sophia repeated, looking Ava over. “The ex-fiancé?”
“I am,” she declared, raising a brow. “And you are?”
Sophia straightened. “Lady Sophia Chitwood. I apologize…it just caught me off guard that you’d be in attendance.”
“And that would be surprising because…?” Ava paused.
“His Grace is courting another,” Sophia informed. “Wouldn’t that make it a little embarrassing and awkward?”
“No,” Ava deadpanned, which made my grin widen.
Sophia’s forehead tightened. “If you are here for selfish reasons, Lady Barlow, I’ll warn you to cease any plans you may have.”
“Plans?” Ava recited.
“Tactics to break up the courting of Lady Madelyn and—”
“Hold on,” Ava interrupted, holding up a hand. “How are you involved with this?” She glanced at me, then back at Sophia. “I’ve never even heard of you.”
Sophia glowered. “I’m Garrett’s close and personal friend.” Ava raised a brow at me, then dismissed any opportunity of my defending myself.
“Interesting,” Ava pondered. “I’ve spent weeks at the castle as a child, and never have I seen you around.”
“I’m just giving you friendly advice, Lady Barlow. Take it as you will.” Ava’s jaw twitched. “Now, Lord Cranfield, that drink.” Sophia lightly yanked on my arm.
“George,” Ava called, dropping her hands to her sides. She waited patiently until George appeared next to me. “Will you be a darling and take Lady Shitwood to the punch table?”
Sophia’s mouth gaped open.
“It’d be my pleasure,” George replied, holding out his arm for Sophia. She hesitated, knowing she was being dismissed. The women fixed each other with scowls, neither backing down. “Ready, Lady Chitwood?”
Sophia huffed and nodded, leaving me alone with the annoyed redhead.
I took a step closer to Ava, grabbing her attention. “You were amazing.”
Ava
Chapter 14
Garrett stared at me like I was his hero. His blue eyes gleamed at me in amusement for ridding him of the blonde shrew. I’m not sure why she irritated me so much, standing so close to Garrett, but it did. The possessive closeness sent a jealousy through me.
“Who was that?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Garrett sighed. “That is the vexing Sophia Chitwood.”
“I got the name, but who is she?”
Garrett raised a brow and smirked. I instantly regretted my meddling in his business.
“An aggravating female who seems to have her sights set on a rich husband.”
“You?”
“I’m hoping not.”
I bit my tongue. It was none of my business who he corresponded with, or what he planned on doing with other females. I was here to help George, and nothing else.
He held out his hand. “Dance with me.”
I hesitated for a moment before I took it, and he escorted me deep within the mass of dancing pairs. The music was slow and whimsical, the notes gently rising and falling around us. The soft candlelight illuminated off his back as I followed him to the floor, outlining his broad shoulders.
Turning to face me, he eased his arm around me, his fingers caressing the bare skin of my back. Heat seeped from his skin into mine, and I shuddered. He bit his lower lip as he clasped my hand with his, his thumb swiping a sensitive part of my hand I didn’t know I had. His eyes were steady on me, dark and dangerous. My heart thudded in my chest as we found our rhythm, swaying back and forth.
“You’re quiet,” Garrett murmured.
I shrugged. “Just enjoying the atmosphere.”
“I’d like it if you’d say enjoying your time with me,” he teased, the corner of his mouth lifting.
I rolled my eyes. “Like you need your ego stroked.”
Garrett beamed, his eyes glimmering with amusement.
“I’ll take any compliment that comes from you,” Garrett stated, spreading his fingers across my back. Heat spread through my cheeks, and my breathing hitched. “In all honestly, Avie, you look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you.” I looked at his chest; my face felt on fire. The way words rolled off his tongue so smoothly sent chills down my body.
“I’m sorry about Lady Shitwood.”
I broke into a smile. “Caught on to that, eh?”
He chuckled. “I did.”
“You looked like you needed help,” I stated. He dropped his hand from my back and twirled me once. Bringing me back toward him, he held me closer. Time stood still, and all I could focus on was the man in front of me. His eyes studied my lips before he brought his gaze up to meet my own.
“How could you tell?” he asked, his voice dropping. I glanced at his lips. Strong. Dominant. Impeccable. My mouth went dry, and I swallowed.
“Your posture,” I blurted.
He tilted his head, his brows furrowed. “My posture?”
“You shift from side to side when you’re irritated, and you clench your fists…I do the same thing,” I explained, knowing my big mouth had already said too much.
He raised a brow. “Have you been studying me?”
“Observing.”
“Even better,” he gloated. “I’m honored.”
“Oh Femme Fatale, Garr,” I reprimanded with a grin. I looked over at a couple, dancing closely together, the man whispering in her ear. Garrett squeezed my hand to capture my attention, and I slowly brought myself to face him. His face was sincere, eyes soft and, in the candlelight, a lighter shade of blue.
“You saved me from that unbearable female, I—”
“Don’t say you owe me,” I said. “You protected me for years, remember?”
Garrett opened his mouth and shut it, like he was contemplating. He leaned forward, keeping my weight under his hand, dipping my body. He slowly brought me back up, our eyes locking together.
He bent his head, close to my ear, and said softly, “And I’d do it again.” His breath fanned across my cheek as his skin brushed against mine. As he came back to face me, a hot surge crept into my cheeks. Now I was the one opening my mouth and closing it.
Garrett
Chapter 15
“Ava is a lovely thing. I wish I hadn’t let George break their engagement,” my father said, puffing on his Belvedere. Standing in the hallway outside of the ballroom, I welcomed the warm spring air, but not my father interrupting my peace and quiet. I continued to look out at the cloudless sky, stars flickering through every inch of it.
“She is lovely,” I said.
My father cleared his throat and placed a large hand on my shoulder. “Speaking of lovely, the Lady Sophia Chitwood is quite beautiful.”