She held her breath, her mind tripping over his request. Was he serious? Hadn’t they already established her lack of expertise on this subject? Still, he seemed curious, his gaze eager. She had to say something. “Kit, this is highly improper—”

“Fuck proper. Everything we are doing is improper.” His lips tightened, his jaw turning hard. “Please, just answer. What do you find appealing about me?”

“Your looks, obviously.” She gestured to his face and body.

His head turned and he stared at the wall, a muscle jumping in his cheek. She sensed her answer upset him, but hadn’t a clue as to why. Was he ashamed of his appearance? No, that didn’t make any sense. They had discussed his handsomeness before and he hadn’t minded.

“That’s it?” he asked. “Nothing other than how I look?”

Oh, he wished for her to elucidate.

Wouldn’t you hate to be nothing more than a pretty face?

Yes, she would. No one, save Kit, had ever complimented her looks, but Alice could sympathize with being judged for what was on the surface. After all, most people took one glance at her and decided she was shy and boring. Not many had tried to actually get to know her.

He watched her carefully and she realized this mattered to him. So she cleared her throat and scooted closer, their knees almost touching, her eyes squarely on his chest. “I like how you put people at ease. You make everyone around you feel important, as if they matter, because they have your attention. You’re observant. Not only do you listen and ask questions, but you remember the answers.” He didn’t move or speak, so she dragged in a breath and kept going. “You’re kind. You could have ditched me for the egg hunt, but you didn’t, and I’ve seen you assist the older chaperones when you didn’t have to. And no doubt you had far more exciting places to be this weekend, but you came to support Maddie and Mr. Archer. That tells me you are loyal to those you care about.”

His shoulders rose and fell with his breath, but he still didn’t react, his gaze remaining on the wall. Did he hate her answers? She kept talking, hoping to prove her point. “In order for me to kiss you, I would want more of the man from last night, the truthful one who told me what he likes without shame, without artifice. The man who showed his genuine self for a moment. I would rather kiss him than the scoundrel who doesn’t mean a word of what he says.”

The clock chimed the half hour and she tried not to fidget as she awaited his reaction. Had she offended him? This was why Mama always told her to be seen and not heard. She was terrible at conversation, especially with the opposite sex.

“Kit, I apologize—”