"Bella, repeat after me." I shook her shoulders as I whispered. "I am a strong, independent woman who doesn't fall to bits because my crush is sitting in my living room."

Bella sucked in a sharp breath. "I am a strong, independent wo-ahhhhh! I can't do this. He seems so reachable just sitting there. I'd embarrass myself."

"Bestie, whether you like it or not. They expect us out there with crackers and water in two minutes or less. Pull yourself together," I whispered.

Instead, Bella chose to slump in my arms. "Just pretend I'm sick and can't get out of bed."

"You were holding a fireplace poker when he walked in. I'm sure he won't be convinced if you're suddenly sick. He might think you hate him."

I could almost imagine the horror on Bella's face. Naturally, she didn't disappoint.

Bella gasped. "No. No. No. He can't think that."

"Which is why we have to get in there. Maybe you might dazzle him with your charming self."

She looked at me with a slightly hurt expression. "Are you messing with me? If I were so charming, I would be married by now."

I shrugged. "Most men won't know charm even if it walked up to them and slapped them in the face."

Bella turned to the plate of crackers that she had kept on the kitchen table. "I appreciate what you're doing but I don't want to settle for false hope. Just don't let me embarrass myself in front of someone I look up to."

I nodded. "I promise I've got your back."

She plastered on a shaky smile and walked into the front room with me in tow. Lord Danbury looked up at our arrival. I stumbled back slightly, sucking in a breath.

Wow. He was handsome.

Bella walked very cautiously past Lincoln and Louis who stood beside the door leading to the back room and placed the plate of crackers on the centre table.

"For me?" Lord Danbury dropped the cloth he was using to wipe his blond hair. "Thank you, Miss Castilla."

Bella blinked in surprise. "Y-you know my name?"

His green eyes twinkled in amusement. "You're designing my mother's dress for the summer ball. It's only natural that I know your name."

Bella flushed. "Oh. That m-makes sense."

My eyes widened as his raked down Bella's body.

Was this guy nonchalantly checking my best friend out?

Bella was a beautiful woman with a lovely glow that surrounded her at all times. The yellow gown she wore did nothing to hide her sunshine personality but wasn't him looking at her like that a little too forward for his time?

His eyes caught my accusing ones and a smirk slowly grew on his face. If I hadn't been watching him intently, I might have missed the little wink he sent my way. Yet it didn't feel like he was flirting with me. It felt like he was trying to get under my skin because he knew I knew what he did.

The little-

I felt a hand slightly graze my waist. I looked up and saw Lincoln standing directly behind me, sending Lord Danbury the harshest glare I had seen on him so far. Lord Danbury stared at Lincoln with lazy eyes and then turned back to Bella, relaxing on the couch like he owned the place.

"Arabella, sit." Lord Danbury looked up at Bella. "I can call you that, right?"

"Only if you let me call you Anthony," Bella blurted.

I smacked my forehead with the base of my palm. Bella turned to me with wide, pleading eyes. I gestured for her to speak to him, mouthing the word 'Apologise' over and over. Before Bella could summon the courage to look at the lord again, he burst into laughter.

"Talented and fearless. What an oddly comfortable combination," Lord Danbury said with a quick glance in my direction. "Yes, Arabella, you may call me Anthony. Please, sit. It is your own home."

This man could hear everything we were saying before we opened the door. Weren't we whispering?

"The men seem to be comfortable where they are. Miss Danbury, won't you sit?"

I smiled predatory. "I would only be in the way. I won't understand your fashion lingo."

He tilted his head slightly to the side. "Fashion lingo?"

Ignoring how cute he looked, I continued. "Yes. Isn't that why you asked for Bella? You were staring at her so closely earlier so I assumed her gown piqued your interest or was I wrong?"

Lord Danbury's mouth parted slightly. My chest filled with pride at having stunned the little tease. However, I kept my expression neutral awaiting his response.

When he composed himself, I could see a new emotion in his eyes. Something that seemed like respect.

"How perceptive of you, Miss Danbury. I have actually been looking for an opportunity to meet with Arabella to talk. Thank the fates I stumbled to this house today," Lord Danbury said.

Something told me that his appearing on our doorstep today was hardly a coincidence. So did that mean he wanted to speak to Bella but had been looking for a concrete reason to be with her?

Exactly the way someone would behave when they were interested in someone but were too shy to approach them.

Like a...a...a crush.

As Lincoln pushed me into the back room, I glanced back at the intriguing male in the front room, watching his eyes swim with kindness as he stared at Bella.

I really hope I've not gone mad.

***
"I spy with my little eye something Lincoln doesn't like," I said.

"Chipped paint?" Louis asked.

"No."

"Sandals?"

I snorted. "Where are you getting these from, Louis?"

"Anthony Danbury," Lincoln said.

I shook my head at him. "Tsk. Tsk. Lincoln, we are talking about things in the kitchen."

"I don't like him," Lincoln muttered.

"You better let your sister have this one. You promised to let her look," I reminded.

"I still don't like him," Lincoln repeated.

"Focus on the game. The answer to this one was tea leaves." I looked around the kitchen to find something else and came up short. "I can't find anything else, guys."

"We were bound to run out. We've been playing for an hour. Besides that, don't you think it's a little suspicious that he appeared on your doorstep only hours after Bella says she saw him smile at her through the window?" Louis whispered.

Great. I'm not the only one who thinks that.

I nodded. "It's almost like he planned this visit. The only inconsistency with this idea is that he couldn't predict the rain. The weather in the city switches faster than a pregnant woman switches emotions."

"Then he's a real creative thinker. I'll give him that. Hear her giggling. The bastard," Lincoln muttered under his breath.

The three of us were sitting at the kitchen table, trying to not-so-subtly eavesdrop on Bella and Lord Danbury's conversation. We weren't having much luck. Over the last hour the two had been talking, they had gotten quieter and quieter with Bella exclaiming randomly about some new cloth pattern or laughing. The latter irked Lincoln more than anything.

"I'm tired of waiting for them." I tried to make myself more comfortable on the overly stiff chair. "Your chairs aren't helping matters. So uncomfortable."

"They're designed that way to prevent Bella and me from spending too much time eating our meals," Lincoln grumbled.

"That's terribly unfortunate." I glanced at the table between us with analysing eyes. "How sturdy is your table?"

"Very. Why?"

"Sturdy enough to hold a human person?"

"Certainly." Lincoln frowned at me. "Do not sit on my table, Miss Danbury."

I stuck my tongue out. "You can't tell me what to do."

"In my own house, I can," Lincoln said.

Guess what I did?

I sat on the table and was about to lie down when Lincoln stood and picked me up. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist.

Lincoln tensed for a moment. "Let go, Andrea."

I leaned closer to him. "As I said earlier, you can't tell me what to do."

"I'm torn between being amused and being protective. I mean, this is the most entertainment I've had all week," Louis said.

I winked at Louis and turned back to Lincoln who was yet again, staring at my lips. His left hand trailed up my exposed lower leg to wrap my legs tighter around his waist. He sat at the edge of the table, waiting for me to move.

When I didn't, he pulled me closer, tilting his head towards mine.

Was he trying to kiss me? More importantly, was I going to let him?

"Andrea, you do realise that your brother is in the room," Lincoln said, his breath mixing with hers.

"That bothers me because?"

The ends of Lincoln's lips twitched in a smile. His fingers gently grabbed my face, pulling me closer.

Right before our lips met, there was a loud crash.