Free Younger Daughter by Brenna Lyons Page A

arrive from the main house with her belongings in an hour. Is there anything I can do for you until then?"
    "No thank you. I believe I'll take a walk in the gardens until then."
    "As you wish, Lady Aurora. Call if you need anything." With that, he was gone.
    Aurora took a calming breath and made her way downstairs. At the edge of the gardens, she stripped off her shoes to walk barefoot between the rows of flowering plants and bushes.
    She turned her face up to the sunlight, closing her eyes. This was what she enjoyed best. Like her older sister, Aurora had been raised with designer dresses and tours of the world. Unlike her sister, Aurora preferred running barefoot on her parents' wildlife preserve in North America.
    I'm going for a walk in the gardens tonight. She smiled. In my cutoff jean shorts. The ones Marietta hates. The Daisy Dukes.
     
    * * * *
     
    Nolan wandered from plant to plant, making a survey of the gardens behind Regina Hall. It was a rare privilege to be the one named to maintain these gardens. Only the highest scoring student, with the best teacher recommendations, was given duty here.
    If he did well, this post would make his career. If he did poorly, he would be replaced faster than he could cry out in despair.
    He was so engrossed in the topic, Nolan nearly tripped over someone laying between the bed of sunflowers and the one of hollyhocks. He jumped back, as she vaulted to her feet with a gasp.
    "I'm sorry."
    "Sorry." Her apology overlapped with his.
    Nolan took a moment to appreciate the view. Whoever she was, she was exceptional. From her tight v-neck sweater to the cutoff denim shorts that barely covered the essentials, from her long bare legs to that enticing scent, the young woman was enough to make any male wolf hard.
    Her dark blonde hair was clipped in short waves around her face, and her eyes were a stunning golden-green.
    As if she was discomfited by his examination, she crossed her arms over her chest.
    Not quickly enough to disguise that her nipples are hard. And she's not wearing a bra.
    "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I'll finish my survey and leave you alone."
    "I...I should go anyway." She started to back away.
    "I won't tell on you." For some reason, it was important that she know that. She could get in a lot of trouble for using the Regina gardens, if she wasn't a resident of the dorm.
    Her clothing says she's not.
    She stopped and stared at him, seemingly shocked.
    "You like the gardens. Don't you?" Even as he asked it, Nolan questioned what difference that could possibly make.
    "Love them." A stiff smile pulled up at the edges of her lips.
    There was something endearing about her wistful look at the sunflowers. "I will be maintaining these gardens. If you would like to...tag along in the evenings and learn about them, I would be glad to teach you." He didn't question why he would make such an offer. She was enchanting, and anything was worth more time in her presence.
    Anything but screwing up my internship. "But you cannot work with the plants without my permission. You see, it's my responsibility to—"
    "I'd like that. Thank you." She smiled widely, offered a wave of her fingers, then loped away. "Tomorrow evening," she shouted back.
    "Seven o'clock."
    Nolan wasn't certain she heard him, until her reply of "See you then." reached him from the far reaches of the gardens.
    He stood there, a sappy smile pasted on his face. She'd agreed to meet with him again.
    Nolan sighed. "Time to finish this survey." Still, he took a moment to look the way she'd disappeared one last time.
     
    * * * *
     
    A date. I have a date.
    Sort of.
    He was interested. There was no denying that. If his cock was any indication— it usually is with guys —he was more than simply interested in her. He was intent.
    But he thinks I'm lower ranked than I am. Aurora slowed, biting her lip, considering that problem.
    It's not that much of a problem. Maybe it's better that he doesn't know who I am. After all, she'd never