Page 21 of Emergency Engagement

‘I know.’ He raised his eyebrows and stared at her with his head tilted to one side, still half-smiling. ‘On a practical note, I think we managed to pull off the business of you working your fingers to the bone while you’re here instead of relaxing and enjoying time out with the others...or with me...even though we’re crazy about one another and can’t bear to be apart.’

‘Being a personal chef doesn’t allow for much free time.’

‘So you made clear to everyone there. Who’d have thought that making puff pastry could consume half a day? Well played, though, I must admit. No one will question you, although youmight find that you have visitors popping in now and again. Perhaps you shouldn’t have made it sound quite so interesting.’

‘As long as Victoria isn’t one of the visitors, then that’s fine.’

‘Who knows? You might find that I make an appearance just to catch up on how a roux gets made...’

‘Ha ha.’

‘Seriously, though, Sammy—thank you for this evening. Only a few more days left and life can get back to normal.’

She heaved a heartfelt sigh. ‘I can’t wait.’

CHAPTER FIVE

THESUITETURNEDout fine. Sammy stepped into a bedroom the size of a football field with an adjoining bathroom. True to his word, Rafael decamped outside, taking whatever clothes he wanted with him and telling her that there was another bathroom off the sitting area which he would be more than happy to use.

‘Where would I have stayed if this situation hadn’t arisen?’ Sammy had asked with genuine curiosity.

‘The place has six bedroom suites, and four more in an annex beyond the pool, which is actually where Clement and Victoria are staying, as well as two other couples. You would have stayed in one of the suites in the main house here, simply because access to the kitchen would have been more convenient.

‘Don’t feel you have to rush to prepare anything for breakfast, by the way. I think that would be beyond the call of duty, considering you’re supposed to actually want to lie in with me every morning rather than hurtling out of bed at six to bake bread. Might raise a few eyebrows if you reallyareburied in the kitchen twenty-four-seven when we should, theoretically, be enjoying some down time together—lazy mornings before the day has had time to kick off. Not my thing, but expectations might be high from our assembled guests, especially after last night’s performance.’

‘Shame. Early starts baking would have worked. My bread skills are second to none.’

‘I’m sure I’ll get to sample some of your creations at some point. Right now, though...no need to rush downstairs. I’ll stay in the suite as well, although I’ll be up and working by seven.’

Rafael lowered his eyes but he was alert to her graceful movements as she strolled towards one of the two cases she had brought, flipping it open and rifling through the contents before stepping back, folding her arms and looking at him pointedly.

‘Don’t worry, I’m on my way out.’ He yanked back from the brink his thoughts of those casual touches earlier on. ‘I think it might be a good idea if you join me for breakfast tomorrow.’

‘Why?’

‘Because for starters I’ll have to make sure evidence of my overnight stay on the sofa is well and truly out of sight. Housekeepers can sometimes have loose tongues, and there are currently four of them doing the rounds. Might be a headache if it gets out that the lovebirds aren’t sharing the bedroom. Besides, I’ll drive you into town. You’ll need to pick up provisions, and there’s an excellent food market in the centre of the capital. I made sure the basics are all in place but you might want to see what fresh produce is out there. You’ll find it all quite different from what you’re used to, I’m guessing.’

‘I’m excited to see what’s available,’ Sammy admitted. ‘I spent some time looking up what I might expect and I’ve got a couple of ideas up my sleeve.’

‘Nothing too elaborate, I hope.’

‘Why?’

‘I wouldn’t want to have to hunt you down behind a pile of recipe books...’

‘You could always avoid that by joining me behind them,’ Sammy said sweetly, but then reddened when his eyebrows shot up at the unintended innuendo behind her perfectly innocent, perfectly sarcastic remark. ‘What Imeantwas, I expect there’s no chance of that when you’ve probably never cooked a home-made meal in your life.’

‘Tut-tut. That’s what I’d call a sweeping generalisation.’ He grinned. ‘You’d be surprised how many I’ve cooked, actually,but that’s a conversation for another day. For the moment, time for us both to retire to our respective sleeping quarters. And Sammy?’

‘Yes?’

‘I just want to make sure that you’re entirely comfortable with what we’re doing.’

‘In what way?’

‘A fake relationship. It comes with certain strings...’

‘Strings?’

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