Free The Spinster & The Coquette by Caylen McQueen Page B

not think it was a wise thought to share with the young man who should have been like a brother to her.
    Frank, however, was a bit more bold. “I would be willing to share a thought with you.” Though his words were brave, he could not look her in the eyes as he uttered them. Instead, he turned his gaze to his fidgeting hands. “I think you’re very pretty, Hester… you are your sister’s equal in every way. In some ways, you are even prettier than she is. She lacks your warmth and goodness. Not only are you a very handsome woman… you are also very kind, and that kindness makes you even more beautiful.”
    “You are very kind as well.” Hester’s head instinctively sank to his shoulder; she desperately wanted to be closer to him. “And… handsome.”
    “Handsome?” When he smiled down at her, matching dimples appeared on his cheeks. “Surely not!”
    “You are handsome,” she insisted. “And you are even more adorable than a basket filled with kittens!”
    Frank chuckled at the comparison. “ An entire basket ? Fie, that cannot be possible! One kitten, possibly, but a basket of them is utterly unbelievable!”
    “But it’s true! You are more adorable than an entire basket of kittens… and a bunny.”
    “A bunny too? Now you’ve gone a bit too far!” Frank laughed. “No one can be as adorable as that.”
    “ You are as adorable as that,” Hester insisted. “And I am very lucky to have you in my life.”
    When she felt his fingers sifting through her hair, Hester feared she might swoon. She had never felt a more pleasurable sensation in all her life.
    As he tugged on a lock of her hair, Frank suddenly said, “I would like very much to kiss you.”
    “ Kiss me ?” When Hester lifted her head from his shoulder, her eyes were wide with shock. “Kiss me… where?”
    The thought of asking for a kiss was terrifying to Frank, but his smile was full of bravado. “This bench should be suitable enough, assuming there is no one spying on us from the window. If you’d prefer, we could hide behind that tree. It should provide adequate cover against prying eyes.”
    “I meant… where would you like to kiss me? One might assume you meant my lips, but I suppose you could also kiss my hand… o-or my cheek?”
    Frank’s tremulous chuckle betrayed his nerves. “I knew what you meant. My reply was an attempt at humor… a rather poor attempt, it would seem.”
    “Ah. I see. Perhaps I am just slow-witted.”
    “You are nothing of the sort. The problem lies with my lack of wit,” Frank insisted. “As for the true answer to your question… you must know I wanted to kiss your lips, you silly goose. However, if you’d like, I would kiss you on the bench, behind the tree, in the kitchen, in a carriage. I would kiss you whenever and wherever you would like, because I am quite certain I could never kiss you enough.”
    “I… ohh .” Hester’s words died in her throat when his hand gently caressed her cheek. Then he cupped her neck, gently drawing her toward him. When his mouth brushed hers, Hester felt her lips tingle. Frank’s lips were light and soft, and though the kiss was brief, her heart was racing out of control.
    “And now…” Frank used his walking sticks to hoist himself from the bench. “Let us continue our adventure in kissing behind the tree. Shall we?”
    “Indeed.” Hester played along. She rose from the bench and joined him behind a bulky oak. Before she could utter another word, Frank crushed his lips against hers. Their second kiss was deeper than the first, and he wove his fingers through her hair as his mouth devoured hers. This time, Hester’s entire body was overcome with tingles, from the top of her scalp to the tips of her toes. When Frank’s lips departed, and Hester opened her eyes, she saw his boyish face and was momentarily reminded of her madness. How could she allow herself to fall for him?
And then he kissed her a third time, and the madness was forgotten. How could