taunted her.
“My day has been rather dull, so if it had been Count Dracula at my door, that would have been fine by me . Unfortunately, it’s just you and my day does not look to become any more exciting.” She said breezily as he laughed out loud. Rebecca was surprised that she had not offended him. A man capable of laughing at himself was rare indeed.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Becky.” He stopped himself and feigned a look of mortification. “Oh, madam, I do humbly apologize. How dare I call you by such a familiar term! Rebecca, what are you doing for the rest of the day?”
Rebecca looked at him through hooded eyes, unsure of how she should respond. It was a Sunday morning and she had no plans to speak of, but did not want to leave herself open to whatever he wanted to do.
Sensing her hesitation, Luke continued, “It’s such a gorgeous summer day that I wouldn’t want you to wilt away in this rented room. I was going to propose that we head to the rail station and take an excursion to Salzburg.”
Rebecca contemplated his offer. She could not deny that she had been thinking about him all this time, and she certainly did not want to waste the entire day in her suffocating quarters. But it would not be proper for her to accept his invitation outright, so she stalled.
“Would Ryan be coming with us? I am sure that he would like to see Salzburg as well.”
“No, Ryan will not be joining us. You’re not a little girl, Rebecca, and I don’t think you have need of an escort. As it turns out, I’m not Count Dracula, so you’ll be reasonably safe with me.” He smirked at her, revealing layers of innuendo and thoughts that she did not wish to read.
“You’re quite amusing, I must say. If we go, I would have to inform my brother first. I’m not sure where he is at the moment, though.”
“There’s no need for that. Ryan already knows that we’re going.” Luke replied causally.
Rebecca was outraged at how presumptuous the man had been, first to assume that she would accept his invitation and then, to tell her brother before even asking her! “In the future, I would appreciate if you consult with me first rather than my brother!”
“Very well. As long as there will be an ‘in the future.’” Luke smiled maddeningly.
“It’s just a figure of speech!” Rebecca said hotly.
“Whatever you say, Becky. Are you ready to go, or shall I wait for you downstairs?”
Rebecca flashed him a warning look, communicating to him that she would not tolerate any more impudence. “Please wait for me downstairs. I need to collect my parasol and…”
Like interrupted as he burst into a fit of laughter. “Your parasol? Come now, I can tell just by looking at you that you’re not the type of wom an who enjoys carrying a glorified umbrella . That’s all they really are, and I don’t see why anyone would want to bother with an umbrella when it’s not raining. ”
Rebecca knew that he had perceived correctly and nearly giggled at his commentary on the parasol. But she did not want to admit that he was right and give him the upper hand . “On the contrary! I carry a parasol wherever I go.”
“But you don’t enjoy it. You’re not stuffy like the so-called ladies who traipse around with delicate parasols . You’re earthy and genuine. Even in one of those glittering diva gowns, you’d still be an earthy girl from Michigan.” Luke spoke with unconcealed admiration, and Rebecca was not sure how she felt about his odd description of her.
An earthy girl? She did not even know what that meant. Luke Springwell was a strange man, indeed, and she knew that to preserve her sanity she should cease trying to analyze or understand him.
“I’ll repeat myself. Please wait for me downstairs and I will be with you presently.” Rebecca said, gesturing regally towards the door.
“Feisty and self-confident. Very attractive. I do hope
“My day has been rather dull, so if it had been Count Dracula at my door, that would have been fine by me . Unfortunately, it’s just you and my day does not look to become any more exciting.” She said breezily as he laughed out loud. Rebecca was surprised that she had not offended him. A man capable of laughing at himself was rare indeed.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Becky.” He stopped himself and feigned a look of mortification. “Oh, madam, I do humbly apologize. How dare I call you by such a familiar term! Rebecca, what are you doing for the rest of the day?”
Rebecca looked at him through hooded eyes, unsure of how she should respond. It was a Sunday morning and she had no plans to speak of, but did not want to leave herself open to whatever he wanted to do.
Sensing her hesitation, Luke continued, “It’s such a gorgeous summer day that I wouldn’t want you to wilt away in this rented room. I was going to propose that we head to the rail station and take an excursion to Salzburg.”
Rebecca contemplated his offer. She could not deny that she had been thinking about him all this time, and she certainly did not want to waste the entire day in her suffocating quarters. But it would not be proper for her to accept his invitation outright, so she stalled.
“Would Ryan be coming with us? I am sure that he would like to see Salzburg as well.”
“No, Ryan will not be joining us. You’re not a little girl, Rebecca, and I don’t think you have need of an escort. As it turns out, I’m not Count Dracula, so you’ll be reasonably safe with me.” He smirked at her, revealing layers of innuendo and thoughts that she did not wish to read.
“You’re quite amusing, I must say. If we go, I would have to inform my brother first. I’m not sure where he is at the moment, though.”
“There’s no need for that. Ryan already knows that we’re going.” Luke replied causally.
Rebecca was outraged at how presumptuous the man had been, first to assume that she would accept his invitation and then, to tell her brother before even asking her! “In the future, I would appreciate if you consult with me first rather than my brother!”
“Very well. As long as there will be an ‘in the future.’” Luke smiled maddeningly.
“It’s just a figure of speech!” Rebecca said hotly.
“Whatever you say, Becky. Are you ready to go, or shall I wait for you downstairs?”
Rebecca flashed him a warning look, communicating to him that she would not tolerate any more impudence. “Please wait for me downstairs. I need to collect my parasol and…”
Like interrupted as he burst into a fit of laughter. “Your parasol? Come now, I can tell just by looking at you that you’re not the type of wom an who enjoys carrying a glorified umbrella . That’s all they really are, and I don’t see why anyone would want to bother with an umbrella when it’s not raining. ”
Rebecca knew that he had perceived correctly and nearly giggled at his commentary on the parasol. But she did not want to admit that he was right and give him the upper hand . “On the contrary! I carry a parasol wherever I go.”
“But you don’t enjoy it. You’re not stuffy like the so-called ladies who traipse around with delicate parasols . You’re earthy and genuine. Even in one of those glittering diva gowns, you’d still be an earthy girl from Michigan.” Luke spoke with unconcealed admiration, and Rebecca was not sure how she felt about his odd description of her.
An earthy girl? She did not even know what that meant. Luke Springwell was a strange man, indeed, and she knew that to preserve her sanity she should cease trying to analyze or understand him.
“I’ll repeat myself. Please wait for me downstairs and I will be with you presently.” Rebecca said, gesturing regally towards the door.
“Feisty and self-confident. Very attractive. I do hope
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