Page 19 of Bride Under Contract

‘Good luck,’ Carter said, and put down his glass too. ‘I’ll walk you back to your villa.’

‘There’s really no need—it’s just there.’

It was literally ten or so steps away, but he looked at her as if there were things she did not know.

‘There’s every need,’ he responded. ‘We have company.’

He nodded towards the fence that lined the route to her door and she jumped a little when she saw a group of macaque monkeys, sitting happily observing them.

‘I didn’t even notice.’ She gave a nervous laugh and watched as he picked up their glasses and bottle.

‘They can cause a lot of havoc in one night,’ he explained, then left her to return the bottle and glasses to wherever he’d located them.

So could he, Grace thought, popping her phone into her bag as she awaited his return.

An hour in his company, immersed in those grey eyes, and her head was in disorder, thrown completely off balance by her own reaction to this intriguing man.

And, while she’d terminated their night, it had nothing to do with not enjoying his company. And certainly it wasn’t because of her early start in the morning.

Quite simply, she was desperate for order to be restored.

For the fire he seemed to have lit inside her to be doused.

‘It’s that one,’ she said, pointing to her villa, and he walked her the short distance, the curious monkeys observing them as they arrived at her door.

‘It was nice seeing you again, Grace.’

‘And you.’ Grace nodded and went for her key.

Then she looked up at him.

More than nice.

And despite her previous need to conclude things, now that the moment was here she was suddenly desperate for more of this disorder, desperate to explore these new sensations, to know his kiss.

Possibly her eyes revealed some of her thoughts, for his fingers took a stray strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. His direct touch came as a relief rather than a shock. It felt like tangible proof that the attraction was mutual—that she wasn’t imagining that someone so suave and gorgeous might be desirous too. His palm remained, and rather than brush his hand away, she lingered in the bliss of the slight, lightly provocative touch, wanting to arch her neck to rest into it.

‘Unexpected,’ she added.

‘Nicely so,’ he agreed.

Her nerves felt as if they were wound tight enough to snap, yet there was also a low beat of excitement...like distant drums. Did he know this was her most thrilling moment? That standing here, miles from anywhere, bathed in stars and touched by him, she was feeling the most peace, the most excitement she’d ever known? And it wasn’t the cruel shelter her mother’s disease had caused that had kept sensation at bay. Nothing had ever come close to the thrill of his company, his touch. And if she knew how, she would step into his kiss, or lift her face...

Carter was sorely tempted to lower his head and taste that ripe mouth. More than tempted. He wanted to gather that slender body and hold it against his, to sink into familiar escape with this captivating beauty...

She wasn’t used to this, though—he was experienced enough to tell that.

There had been two chances to move their conversation to bed and she’d refused them both.

Now, though, he felt her warm cheek, saw that full, waiting mouth, and he knew where it would surely lead.

And she’d regret it.

Not the night, but his cold departure in the morning.

Silence thrummed. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyes were on his. And he was so close to succumbing... But then he heard a low gecker from their audience on the fence, followed by a small coo. He glanced over her shoulder as three possibly wise monkeys brought him sharply to reason, and instead of kissing her and doing more, so much more, Carter used his mouth for good.

‘Goodnight, Grace.’

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