BooksBarbecue
Back For Ever Save as PDF
Chapters (63)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Map of the Willowhaven
  4. Map of Rosehill City
  5. Foreword
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. Epilogue
  62. Map of Rosehill City
  63. Also by Jenny Hickman

At first, Ronan doesn’t seem to notice Trevor, but when he does, the prince waves him over to our table.

Trevor slips off his glasses, tucking them into the leather satchel slung across his chest before running a hand through his chestnut hair. “Good to see you again, Kerris. Ronan.”

Leaning back in his chair, Ronan drapes an arm over mine. “Fancy meeting you here, Trev.”

“You mean at the restaurant where I come for lunch every day? Yes. What a coincidence.”

Hold on. Did Ronan choose this place because he knew Trevor would be here? If so, that was dreadfully underhanded. I might be out with the prince today, but that doesn’t give him the right to scare away any other potential suitors.

“I’m looking forward to our tea tomorrow, Trevor,” I say, making it clear that my decision has not been made. Yes, I had fun today, but I could have even more fun with Trevor tomorrow.

Trevor’s whole countenance brightens, his spine and shoulders straightening. “I was thinking we could go to dinner instead, if that’s all right with you?”

“Dinner sounds wonderful.” When I get back to the house, I’ll have to bring my mother’s dresses to Madame Ella to see if she can alter any in time for the date. It seems such a silly, senseless thing, but I’d hate to wear the same gown two dates in a row.

Trevor deserves his own dress.

Trevor tells us goodbye and makes his way further into the tea house to sit at a table all by himself.

Setting my teacup down, I try to read Ronan’s expression but come up short. “May I ask you something?”

He flashes me a blinding smile. “You can ask me anything.”

I could tell him there’s a bit of blueberry stuck between his front teeth, but that will depend on how he answers my next question. “Did you choose this tea house because you knew Trevor would be here?”

He glances away, his cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink that has nothing to do with the sun washing over us. “I didn’t not choose it for that reason.”

That’s what I thought. “I am not a prize to be won, Ronan.” I am a woman who deserves to make up her own mind.

He sits up, his hands finding mine. “But you are, Kerris. And if I must fight dirty for your proposal, I will.”

I’m not sure whether to be flattered or appalled.

Perhaps a bit of both.

But since I do not approve of his underhandedness, I don’t tell him about the blueberry.

* * *

After tea, Ronan makes a quick trip to the privy. When he returns, the berry has been removed from between his teeth.

He doesn’t mention it, and neither do I.