Page 24 of Once upon a Summer Night

Eleanor choked on the sformato. Had Colin evenlistenedto what she wanted? “What makes you believe I’m wealthy?”

“Your aunt, of course.” He waved a negligent hand. “When she goes, you’re the only living relative. Ergo, it stands to reason you’re an heiress. The old bat is loaded.”

Outrage built in her chest, but instead of responding, she crammed the rest of the dessert into her mouth. Howdarehe speak of her aunt as though she were nothing more than a means to an inheritance?

Bruce sighed, and Ellie gritted her teeth. The habit was downright annoying. “You’ve an acceptable figure for a commoner, Eleanor. But if you’re serious about datingme, a viscount—”not yet, Ellie thought angrily “—I need you to be more, but less.”

Not for the first time that evening, Eleanor blinked at him, at a complete loss for words. “I’m sorry?”

“I think if we start with ten pounds now, and another five pounds for each of our next three dates, I could be photographed with you in public. You’d be perfect for me.” The smile again. “We’d make stunning pictures for the papers. You’ll need new clothing, of course, as your choices tonight are a bit dowdy. And while I appreciate the modesty, you’ll need to show more skin. Oh! I forgot to mention. I’m very good in bed.”

“Um, that’s a great offer,” Ellie replied as sweetly as she could manage, “but I don’t see us working out, Bruce.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be ridiculous. You realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You may not be accepted at first, of course, because of Andrew and that small dating scandal, but no one would snub you directly, not if you have my name as protection. And for God’s sake, Eleanor, stopeating! If you take another bite of that pudding, I’m going to leave. Someone might think I ate dessert, and if that gets back to my trainer, he’ll make my life hell in the gym!”

She very carefully scraped the bottom of the dish and plopped the spoon into her mouth, then leveled a stare at him. “Like I said. I don’t see us working out.”

He threw his napkin down in a huff, then whipped out his wallet and tossed a couple of notes onto the table. “I don’t want Gina to think I’m cheap,” he said, before he stomped off.

Ellie raised an eyebrow, wondering what his ex had to do with anything, then shook her head slowly, first trying to understand, then trying to calm herself.

It was a futile effort. She pulled her phone out and jabbed Colin’s number into it.

“That was quite a show,” Colin noted dryly as he slid into Bruce’s empty seat, making Ellie jump.

She glared at him as she shoved her phone back into her purse. “I specifically saidno aristocrats. A viscountcy is…wait for it…aristocratic. What don’t you understand about those words?”

Colin inspected her empty dessert bowl. “That looked good.”

Ellie ignored him. “I understand that my aunt thinks that a title will be what’s best for me. But this isn’t Regency England. I don’t need the protection of a man, or his name. I just want to be happy. Preferably by myself, in my bookshop, with my books. And a cup of tea.”

“And a cat.”

She glared at him. “I don’t like cats.”

He laughed. “Well then, that lessens the chances of you becoming a crazy cat lady.”

She didn’t laugh. Instead, she looked away. “It’s my life,” she muttered mulishly.

“I know.” He reached across the table and touched her hand. Electricity shot up her arm, traveling straight to herheart, but she stared at her empty dessert dish and willed the feeling away. Softly, he added, “I want to make you happy.”

His words further cracked her already fragile heart.

Youwouldmake me happy.The unbidden thought panicked her, and she quickly swallowed past the painful lump in her throat. “I’d like to go,” she blurted out.

They stood, and Colin pulled out his wallet.

“Oh, he left some money,” Ellie said quickly.

“Not nearly enough.” He chuckled. “I heard he didn’t want to come off as cheap to Gina.”

“Which was a strange thing to say, wasn’t it?” Ellie wondered aloud, shrugging into her jacket.

“Not so strange if you consider the fact that Gina’s sitting by the window over there.” Colin smirked. He gave the woman a small wave, and she dipped her head in response. “While this guy looked good on paper, there was something about him that seemed…off. So I dug a little, contacted his ex, and gave her a free dinner in exchange for her presence.”

Ellie gaped at him. “What? Why would you set me up with him if you knew he was still hung up on his ex?”

“Because he fit most of your criteria.”

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