Free One Sinful Night by Kaitlin O'Riley Page B

childhood.
    â€œThat’s the question to which we’d all love to know the answer, Lady Helene! Was he a stick in the mud then as well?” George asked inquisitively. “Because we certainly know he can be now!”
    Again Vivienne felt the heat of Aidan’s intense stare on her. She flashed him the briefest of glances, but now his handsome face held an unfathomable expression. Should she avoid answering and pay the penalty? But after Aidan’s pointed question to her, they would surely guess that something had happened between them back in Ireland if she did not answer.
    Vivienne had never been a coward…
    â€œCome on Vivvy, we’re waiting!” Gregory urged.
    â€œThe fact is…” she whispered, her throat tightening at the words.
    The truth it would be then, however much she would like to viciously flay his character. It confused her that they referred to him as being dull or boring. Aidan must have changed greatly over the years. Her voice was soft as she spoke. “Well…He wasn’t the Earl of Whitlock back then. Just Aidan Kavanaugh. And he wasn’t a stick in the mud at all…He was wonderful. He was great fun and always full of adventure and laughter. We played together often. He was…he was the sweetest boy. Smart, sensitive, and kind—”
    â€œThat’s enough,” Aidan interrupted in a low, harsh voice. The expression on his handsome face darkened menacingly and a muscle tightened along his jawline.
    â€œAw, come now, Whitlock!” Wesley Lawrence called out tauntingly, his grin beaming. “It was just getting interesting!”
    Gregory, astutely taking in the tense look between Aidan and Vivienne, came to the rescue. “Yes, that’s all we need to hear Vivienne. It’s your turn to ask a question now.”
    Grateful for Gregory’s intervention, Vivienne rallied quickly, not meeting Aidan’s eyes. She laughed brightly and said, “I shall ask a question of Lord Harry. Is there a particular lady in this room you are sweet on?”
    That question caused a chorus of exclamations and nervous giggles from Sarah Atwood. Harry chose to pay the forfeit rather than name one of them, so Vivienne declared he had to kneel at the feet of each lady present and profess his undying love for her. As Harry met the demands of the penalty in the midst of titters and teasing laughter, Vivienne let out a deep breath, unaware that she had been holding it for so long. Her hands were shaking in her lap. Like a magnet to steel, she could not help herself from looking up and meeting Aidan’s intense glare head-on.
    His green eyes were still fixed on her but his expression was unreadable. Her stomach flip-flopped. As they stared at each other and the moment stretched into minutes, she suddenly felt that they were alone. Just the two of them. Something in his eyes changed and became familiar. They seemed to soften, to warm to her. He looked at her as if he cared. It was the briefest glimmer of Aidan. The real Aidan that she had once loved. Not the haughty, cold, Earl of Whitlock who barely acknowledged her presence, but the Aidan who loved her. Without speaking a word, he asked something of her, questioned her with his eyes.
    Helpless to answer, she just gazed back at him, filled with an incredible sense of longing that made her want to cry. Seeing him again left her feeling open, vulnerable.
    â€œHey, Whitlock!” Gregory called loudly, finally breaking their little reverie, waving his hand. “Gardner just asked you a question.”
    Blinking, Vivienne disengaged from their powerful stare to see Gregory looking at them with a curious expression. They were all observing her and Aidan. Surely they were as confused by their behavior as she was herself.
    â€œSorry,” Aidan said in a rather clipped voice. “Could you please repeat the question?”
    â€œI asked you to describe what Miss Montgomery was like when you