Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Lovell shook his hand and huffed.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you down,” he grumbled. “If you’d hurry. I don’t want to be late.”
Sliding over the seat, she took her brother’s hand and allowed him to assist her down. He released her immediately and struck out for the door, leaving her behind. She didn’t blink twice about it when he vanished inside the academy as she continued to remain outside in the cold.
With a glance to the driver, she gave him a nod of thanks and made her way over the cleared path. For a moment she debated knocking but when the next gust of icy wind shot through her clothing, she decided against it and pushed her way inside.
Instantly surrounded by heat, she allowed a small moan of relief to escape before she ensured the door had latched behind her.
“Miss Fletcher.”
Turning in the direction of the voice, an honest smile lifted her lips as she watched Falcon striding toward her. The man was beyond handsome. He moved with a grace missing from a lot of the men she saw, not that there were that many, but still. She sensed a bit of wildness within him, much like Bryn, that he kept hidden, but she didn’t doubt it was there.
“Mr. Morgan, what a pleasure to see you again.”
He reached her and took her hand, bending over it and brushing a kiss along the back of her glove.
“Falcon, my dear. Ignore what my grump of a friend says. We’re friends so you get to call me Falcon. If he has a problem, he can try to beat me in a fight.”
She couldn’t help but laugh.
Across the room, she watched as Bryn scowled at the two of them before he knocked down his opponent with two swift jabs to the chin. Then he stomped off.
Falcon merely winked at her before tucking her hand in the curve of his arm, leading her to the spot which had become hers. One of the men had drawn a large, cushioned chair for her over by the fire and there was a small table as well.
Not leaving her side until she was settled, Falcon gave her another small bow before he walked away. Rosamunde was quite content here by the fire, in her comfortable chair.
* * * *
“You’re in a fucking shit mood. And have been all day, even before we left the academy.”
Bryn looked up at his friend, who walked in the study and sank into a chair across from him. Anger stirred again with the mental recollection of Falcon walking with Rosamunde to the space the men of the academy had created for her.
“I’m fine.”
Falcon shrugged and propped his feet up on the table between them. “If you like her, tell her.”
“Not talking about it.”
“Of course not.” He got up and poured a drink for each of them. “But if we were,” he continued as he passed Bryn one, “she feels the same way about you.”
“She’s promised to another.” The words were ripped from his throat.
“Right, the letch.” Falcon reclined back and hooked his boot on the opposite knee. “Are you going to let that happen?”
“What choice do I have? I’m not staying here.”
“Ballocks. It’s better and a far more legit choice to make a play for her hand than this other asinine idea you have of helping her find a man to take her innocence.”
Bryn squeezed the tumbler, took a deep breath and glared at his friend. “It wasn’t my idea. She wanted help.”
Falcon drained the amber liquid and leaned forward, boot heel hitting the floor with a thump.
“Stop being obtuse. You know fucking well what I’m talking about. I don’t give two fucks about you trying to help her find a cock, but I know you and you’re going to kill any man who touches her.”
Bryn forced his jaw to unclench. “I’m helping her.”
“Have Remington do it. You know he loves ladies.”
The growl grew.
Falcon pressed. “If it means nothing to you, why not Piers Weaver? He’s known for his charm with the ladies. They both know how to be discreet, so it won’t get back to her parents that they touched her, fucked—”
Crash! Bryn swore as he looked across the room to where his shattered glass had fallen to the floor, the remaining liquid running down the wall.
“Right,” Falcon said in a droll tone, leaning back in his chair, plucking at a non-existent speck on his clothing. “Doesn’t mean a fucking thing to you.”
“I don’t see you offering.”
Falcon leaned back. “One, I’m not that much of an ass and two, don’t pretend you have no clue where my heart is.”
Bryn did and he felt for his friend. Keely either was playing with him, or she truly had no idea how much his best friend was in love with her. Had been since they were children.