Men can be charmingly awkward when they fall in love and are too shy to confess about it. It is much easier for a man to give up everything he has, or bravely risk his life, or perform a foolhardy heroic act rather than utter the few simple words, which have been torturing him lately. His heart beats like dozens of drums, his blood boils up, and ticking in his temples is crazy like hell, but all he can say when the right moment arrives is: “I like you…hmm, a lot.”

Here is a snippet from Waiting for the Dance:

…he adored her. He wanted to please her, follow her whims, and spoil her by doing every folly she’d ask for.

Again, she seemed to sense this. “Would you risk yourself to save the life of a woman you love?” She asked.

“Sure.”

“Could you hurt or humiliate your woman to please yourself?”

“Of course not!”

“Would you hurt her if you wanted to prove to her that you were right?”

“I’d never hurt anyone weaker than me.” He was actually offended at the thought. “Why are you asking?”

“I know people who would. Never mind. Listen, Alec, why do people keep thinking that your great grandfather might know some secret about Tershian treasures?”

“I have no idea. Probably, because he did not die naturally. You know, people like making up stories around such situations.”

“What if your family property is still hidden somewhere, waiting to be found?” Her eyes lit up with the spirit of adventure. “Just imagine: old paintings, figurines, cutlery, books – having family initials on them–”

“No. I don’t believe it. After all those years? No.”

Inga continued persistently, like a stubborn child. “Still, if I were you, I’d check for any traces of family property in the archive.”

There was amazing determination in her words. For a second, her tightly closed lips reminded him of the professor. He remembered how Boris also turned a little skittish once. “You are all very persistent here,” he said, “even stubborn. Is this a common trait of all Tershians?”

“I guess so,” she said absently. “If I were you, I’d give it a try.”

He could not help smiling. “You know what? Give it a try. If you find anything that my great–grandfather had hidden in Tersh, it is yours,” he said.

Inga’s eyes opened wide. “What? Are you serious?”

“Absolutely. You are welcome to check for my ancestor’s property, or treasures – whatever you can find, it is all yours.”

“I can’t believe you are saying this, Alec! How can you give it away so easily?”

“I’m not giving it away, I am giving it to you.”

“But why?”

“Because I like you…hmm, a lot.”