“Did you?” she asked with interest. “And what plans are those?”

“Well, at this very moment a couple of my friends are talking with him, and blocking his view of us. Unintentionally, of course.”

“Oh, of course,” she said on a laugh and turned to glance toward where Robert had been standing all night. Sure enough, a group of three men were surrounding him.

“And, I have danced us to the terrace doors,” Findlay added.

Lisa turned her attention to her other side to see that they were indeed only feet from a set of terrace doors.

“All I am waiting for is your permission to whisk you out for a breath of fresh air and a kiss,” he said quietly. “Do I have your permission?”

Lisa turned to face him, taking in the solemn question on his face as she debated her response. It was one thing to decide to allow a man a kiss should he make the attempt. It was another thing entirely to be asked and actually have to give permission. For some reason saying yes felt, well, a bit bold. It turned it from allowing something to be taken, to actually giving. Which was just silly, she supposed. Was she not eager for this first kiss business? Had she not been disappointed that Robert had interrupted them now twice? She really did want to know what it was like, and if she would like it.

Forcing her head up, Lisa opened her mouth but couldn’t actually find it in herself to say yes. Instead, she closed her mouth, swallowed and simply gave one small, quick nod.

Fortunately, it was enough. In the next moment, Charles was turning, whirling them out through the open doors and onto the terrace so fast that she felt sure no one had noticed. Once out in the cool evening air, he broke their embrace and walked her to the railing at the shadowed edge. Lisa went silently, her head bowed now as nervousness roared up within her. He was going to kiss her. Dear God. Her first kiss and it wasn’t going to be Robert.

That didn’t matter, she reminded herself grimly. What did matter was . . . what if she was a bad kisser? She hadn’t a clue what she was supposed to do in a kiss. Did she just stand there with her eyes closed and lips puckered? Was she expected to kiss back? If so, how? Her sisters and their husbands had kissed in front of her, but mostly they were merely quick pecks. However, she knew from her reading that there was much more than a simple brushing of lips in a proper kiss. There was nibbling and thrusting tongues and sucking and all sorts of things that sounded rather silly but were apparently quite delightful. On the other hand, perhaps he wouldn’t give her a proper kiss. Perhaps he would just brush her lips with his this time and—