The Debutante Dilemma by Valerie Bowman

Author:Valerie Bowman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781960015006
Publisher: Valerie Bowman

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Tell me again. You planted a field of roses, you say?” St. Clare asked over drinks in Aiden’s study the next afternoon.

Aiden nodded as he poured his friend a brandy. “Yes. To make up for the ones I murdered.”

St. Clare squinted, looking confused. “Murdered? They’re flowers.”

Aiden brought the glass over to St. Clare and handed it him. “That’s not how Jessica sees them. They’re alive to her.”

St. Clare’s dark brows shot up. “Jessica? You’re using her Christian name?”

“Yes, we’re friends.” Aiden took a seat behind the desk.

St. Clare’s brows remained lifted. “Friends? You? Friends with a woman?”

Aiden settled into his chair and took a sip from his own brandy glass. “I’m as surprised as you are. But you know I like it when people tell me the truth. Jessica does that.” She also had a smile that made him melt inside, eyes that could tempt a saint, and a chin-shoulder thing that made him want to kiss her…and do more. But he wasn’t about to mention any of that to St. Clare.

St. Clare took a sip from his own glass. “A sennight ago you were ready to throttle her.”

A self-satisfied grin spread over Aiden’s face. “And now we’re friends. I told you I could be charming if I wanted to.”

“Does this mean she’s forgiven you?” St. Clare asked next.

“She’s forgiven me.” Aiden nodded.

“She said that? In so many words?” St. Clare prodded.

“Yes,” Aiden replied with a laugh. “In so many words.”

St. Clare narrowed his eyes, swirling the liquid in his glass. “And yet you continue to visit her? Interesting.”

Aiden took another sip and shrugged. “Like I said, we’re friends.”

St. Clare settled back in his chair. He shook his head. “The Duke of Thornbury, befriending a debutante. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

“Believe me, neither did I.” Aiden grunted.

St. Clare braced an elbow on the arm of his chair and continued to swirl his brandy. “What’s that? Do I detect a bit of displeasure in your voice?”

Aiden tossed back the rest of his drink. “It’s just that… Apparently, all she sees in me is a friend.”

St. Clare pressed his lips together and gave Aiden a knowing glare. “Ah, there we have it. You don’t want to only be her friend, despite the fact that you’ve just told me three times in a row that you’re friends.”

“I do want to only be her friend… I think.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair.

St. Clare arched a brow. “You think means you don’t.”

“No, it means I think,” Aiden shot back.

The marquess’s brow remained arched. “You did say she’s beautiful, didn’t you?”

Aiden nodded. “Very.”

“Then you don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

St. Clare sighed. “Want to be friends.”

Aiden tossed a hand in the air. “Oh, bloody hell. I don’t know what I want. I only know that I kissed her yesterday, and she nearly hurt herself pulling away from me.”

St. Clare’s crack of laughter filled the room. “Are you serious? You? The legendary Duke of Thornbury rejected by a beautiful lady?”

Aiden drew his brows together and scrunched up his nose.

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