Dreaming of a Duke Like You by Bennett Sara

Author:Bennett, Sara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Vivienne moved away to a safe distance, but her skin prickled as if his presence behind her were another physical touch. She had been trying to maintain a calm and polite veneer, but Gabriel had burrowed his way beneath her public mask and threatened to over-turn her.

Outwardly this wasn’t the down-to-earth man who had spoken with her at the gaming club, putting his deal to her, winning her over with his intensity and his honesty. This was the Duke of Grantham, dressed in his fashionable clothes, dazzling in the spring sunlight as he flirted with her, as she tried to keep her eyes from his broad shoulders in that stylish jacket and his strong legs in those tight pantaloons. And he was flirting.

What on earth was wrong with her?

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen a good-looking man before. And yet something about Gabriel tipped her off balance, made her forget her usual caution, and despite knowing it was never going to go anywhere, that anything between the two of them was impossible even if he were interested, she couldn’t help this foolish lift in her chest.

Was he attracted to her too? Did he feel this frisson between them whenever their eyes met? Did he dream about her as she dreamed about him? Because if he did then she was in a great deal of trouble.

Vivienne squirmed inside to admit it, but since they had come to their agreement, she had dreamed of him every night. And they were not the sort of dreams she could discuss with her mother or Annette. Naked dreams, mouth-to-mouth dreams, skin-to-skin dreams, leaving her heated and achy. The way in which he had stared at her lips just now, the barely there touch of his fingers, had reminded her of those dreams. Just like when they had argued on the terrace at the ball, she wanted him to kiss her, she wanted to kiss him, but this time it was Edwina who had interrupted them and not Charles.

She took a breath and told herself to forget about all of that. She was here to pay off Will’s debt by helping Gabriel’s sisters, offering them advice and support for their entry into society. Particularly Olivia. She had taken to the eldest girl immediately, understanding what lay behind her rebellious gaze and the watchfulness that hid a multitude of confidence and self-esteem issues. Olivia didn’t want to be a duke’s daughter, she didn’t want all eyes upon her, she wanted to be able to do and say as she pleased. Unfortunately that would never happen, not now. The girl could not go back to those carefree days, so it was up to Vivienne to give her the assurance to take on her new role and step into her place in the ton.

As for Gabriel caring for his sisters… perhaps it had surprised her in the beginning. She knew he wanted to help them secure their futures, but at the same time she had expected some

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