Love Me Always Read Online Free Page A

Ian kept rattling on about. Why am I being punished this way? Nick wondered.
    Before too long, something warm brushed against his elbow, and he looked up at the serving maid. He’d failed to notice her earlier, but now she looked at him with a familiar spark of interest in her eyes.
    “Is there anythin’ else I can git ya, gov’na?”
    Nick gave her one of his devastating smiles – the kind he’d been told would send a maid’s heart fluttering out of control. Although he thought her speech needed improvement, she was passively pretty. Her dark blonde hair hung over her shoulders, looking as if it needed to be washed. The baggy cream-colored blouse rode low on one shoulder and the dirty, tattered skirt was not attractive at all, in his opinion.
    “I’d like more wine,” he said nicely and winked.
    “Sure thing.” She hurried away and within minutes brought him another drink.
    He leaned closer to her and grinned, but then someone kicked his shin from underneath the table. Pain shot up his leg. The disapproving glares of his brothers made him pause. The bright red face of the woman sitting between them also reminded him who was in his company at the table. The loud huff from Mrs. Berkley sitting at the end of the bench also let him know he’d be getting an ear boxing from her soon.
    “Are you forgetting our guest?” Gregg’s voice came out low and firm.
    Nick shrugged. “Not at all.”
    “Then would you mind doing that with the serving girl in another time and place?”
    The serving maid walked away, watching Nick over her shoulder. He withdrew his attention from her and glared at Gregg.
    “What troubles you?” Nick snapped. “Has our uncle’s soon-to-be bride not been to an inn before? Am I hurting her tender sensibilities?”
    Catherine’s gaze didn’t leave her food, but her face flamed brighter. She stirred her crust of bread around the plate. A small pang of regret began in his chest. He shouldn’t have said it, but now it was too late. Curse his damaged heart.
    “Nicholas,” Gregg warned, “this is not the time.”
    Mrs. Berkley cleared her throat. “I believe this is not a proper subject, either.”
    Nick shifted his gaze from Gregg to Ian, who still gave condescending looks, then to the embarrassed girl who didn’t meet his eyes.
    “As you wish,” he snapped, pushing himself from the table. “If we are finished with our meals, I’m ready to leave.” He stormed out of the inn, his heart crushing with each step.
    * * * *
    Catherine ran a shaky hand over her heated cheeks as she stared out the window of the carriage, waiting for Mrs. Berkley to join her. The older woman had pulled Nicholas aside after they’d walked out of the inn. Catherine wished she could have heard what her companion said.
    Being in a school for four years had kept Catherine innocent in some things, and she had no idea a man’s smile could be so wicked. But when Nicholas grinned at the serving girl, a flutter grew in Catherine’s chest that just wouldn’t stop.
    She swallowed the lump lodged in her throat. Perhaps it was a good thing Nick didn’t look at her as he’d done the server. Catherine had never seen a man so blindly attractive in her life, and when Nick smiled, he was definitely worth staring at.
    When the carriage door opened, Mrs. Berkley climbed in, as did Gregg and Ian.
    “Is something amiss?” Catherine asked.
    Gregg closed the door and tapped on the roof of the carriage. It lurched into motion. “Nothing of the sort. My brother and I thought you might like some company for a little while. Your maid is riding in one of the wagons.”
    She glanced at Mrs. Berkley who, although she didn’t say anything, nodded her approval.
    Catherine smiled. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
    “You know,” Ian said, “it feels strange conversing with you on an adult level, and I feel I should challenge you to a horse race, or skip rocks with you at the lake.”
    She laughed. “I don’t think there is