Page 41 of A Sight to Behold
“Yes, please,” Pippa said, smiling at him. She’d caught on.
*
Minutes later, Nickoffered Pippa his arm, and she placed her delicate hand on the crook of his elbow. He shuddered with pleasure and pinched his buttocks together, hoping to give the raging erection in his breeches a little more room to breathe. This was agony, pure torture. And yet, he was so glad to have the blonde beauty on his arm that he didn’t care.
Pippa stood tall and slender, surprising Nick with her choice of pelisse. As she fastened it, the garment elegantly outlined the curves of her figure. He couldn’t help but admire her beauty; she was just the right height for him, tall enough to meet his gaze yet slightly shorter, allowing for effortless moments when he leaned in to kiss her—if he dared.
Nick tensed his arm to ensure she had a good grip.
And she did the most adorable thing and squeezed him back.
“Where are you taking me?” Pippa broke the silence.
“Our Frenchpatisserieis just around the corner. I have a standing order of madeleines.”
“Oh, how wonderful,” she said, but her voice drooped.
“Why does this disappoint you?”
“Oh, it doesn’t.”
“Pippa,” Nick halted. “Tell me.”
She moved her eyes, shook her head, and finally raised her brows as if she had had a whole conversation with herself. “I can’t say.”
“I promise to keep your secrets; I’m a doctor.”
That made her eyes smile, but it didn’t quite reach her mouth. She tried to fight it with little success as her lips grew pointy and curled into a smile. “Well, madeleines for breakfast go by too quickly. I was hoping to spend more time with you.”
“I would like that very much,” Nick said with the charm he thought he’d entirely lost around this beauty, for up until now he’d behaved like an overcome green boy in her presence.
Arm in arm, they walked part way down the street but when they turned the corner toward the practice, Pippa stopped. He didn’t want the time with her to end but didn’t dare suggest turning the other direction for a stroll in the park.
“Let’s go somewhere else.”
“Where?” Nick hoped she wouldn’t suggest returning to 87 Harley Street because he didn’t want to be there. He wanted to be somewhere far away, just with the beauty who had just let go of his arm. He immediately missed her touch.
“Could you hire a hack?” she asked.
Said and done.
“Where are you taking me?” Nick asked when Pippa handed the driver a small card and a few shillings.
“Only about an hour outside of Town.”
“What? Where?” Excitement bubbled within him, but Nick thought he should at least act coy and feign a modicum of concern for propriety.
“To a little house in the country. It’s not far.” Pippa cringed when she said that.
“You’re a bad liar, aren’t you?” Nick chuckled.
With an enchanting twitch, her nose crumpled. “I suppose so.”
“I like that about you quite a bit.” Nick leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. “So, if I’m going to be in this carriage for a while, I’ll make myself comfortable.”
“Are you not upset that I am abducting you?” Pippa asked cheekily once the carriage rolled down the smooth streets in Marylebone and headed to the city’s outskirts.
Nick shrugged.
