Letter From a Rake: Destiny Romance by Sasha Cottman Page B

you here as soon as you were well enough to be out in society once more. I, too, have been anxious to see you again.’ He stopped and drew in a ragged breath.
    He turned to her and she could see his face was a study of serious intent. ‘I am so sorry for the way I behaved towards you at the party; my behaviour was inexcusable and boorish. Please accept my deepest and most heartfelt apologies for the pain I must have caused you. My only defence is that I was in agony and not thinking clearly. I am grateful that David rescued me before I turned your night into a total disaster.’
    ‘You did,’ Millie replied, adamant that he would not get off so lightly for his churlish behaviour at the party.
    ‘Pardon?’
    ‘You did ruin my whole night. You humiliated me in front of hundreds of other people and you continued to stare at me for the remainder of the evening. Since then, you have sent me three magnificent floral arrangements, without having the decency to sign your name or even offer an apology. Correct me if I am wrong, but I take it they did come from you?’
    Alex nodded his head. ‘I am apologising now.’
    ‘Very well then, your apology is accepted, Lord Brooke. Please let go of my hand,’ she snapped.
    ‘No. Not until you tell me how to get into your good graces,’ he demanded.
    She stopped mid-stride and attempted to snatch her hand back, but he held it firmly. She gave him a hard stare, knowing she could not afford to create a scene in such a public place. What was his game? He had made his apology and she had accepted it. He should have politely steered her in the direction of her brother and said nothing more.
    He stepped in closer and spoke so only she could hear. ‘Please, I need to know how I can make this up to you. I need you to —’
    ‘Need me to what?’ she interrupted, raising her eyebrows.
    Alex looked over her shoulder, seeming to search the landscape for an answer. She heard him take a deep breath and swallow before he spoke.
    ‘I need you to like me. I like you. I know I was a complete arse at the party, and I am terribly sorry. I did not know what to do or how to talk to you. To be honest, I still don’t know. You have taken me completely by surprise.’
    Millie’s world tilted on its axis and she blinked as she waited for it to right itself. But instead, it stayed exactly where it was, slightly off-centre and a little out of focus.
    Now it was her turn to struggle for air and be utterly lost for words. She shook her head; this could not be happening. She reminded herself that he was Lord Brooke, the man she had spent the past few days intensely disliking. His only redeeming feature was his lovely sister. Why should he care about what she thought of him? Her mouth opened and closed twice, but nothing came out.
    He smiled at her and his whole face lit up. His magnificent green eyes sparkled.
    Oh God, you are so beautiful. Is this how you hold sway over everyone: break them down and then make them like you? This is going to end badly, I just know it.
    ‘Did you like the flowers?’ he asked, skilfully turning his smile to a shy grin. ‘I chose them especially for you, to match your stunning blue eyes.’ He chuckled. ‘Though I expect you will take me to task over the lavender; it was the closest thing to blue the florist could find this morning. He was struggling to find summer flowers in the hothouses, so again I will have to beg your forgiveness.’
    Her heart leapt. He had not been sending the flowers to hurt her; rather, he had been trying to apologise in his own odd, clumsy way. She found his lack of finesse strangely appealing. How this god of a man could make a mess of a simple apology was beyond her, but he was obviously earnest in asking for her forgiveness. She had been wrong about other people before, but she still sensed he was holding a great deal of himself back.
    ‘Hey ho, you two,’ David called out, as he and Charles returned. ‘All sorted?’
    Alex and Millie