Page 123 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

Yes, she wanted him to. But not yet. Not until they’d talked. As if to signal that, she took a neat step backwards, and he paused immediately.

‘I came to discuss our new...deal,’ she said, a little breathlessly.

‘Is that why you came, Rosalind?’ he asked after a beat, his tone lightly mocking, the double entendre sending sparks through her veins.

‘We need to agree to the details,’ she continued, valiantly. ‘Before anything else...happens.’

He arched a brow.

‘Like the other night,’ she clarified, heat in her cheeks.

‘Ah, yes. Heaven forbid we should finish what we started before there’s a signed contract in place.’

‘We’re talking about making a baby,’ she reminded him. ‘That’s serious.’

‘I’m aware of that.’

‘You’re the one who reminded me about the importance of bringing a child into a marriage like ours. We need guard rails in place, for the sake of that child.’

His eyes narrowed and she thought he was going to argue but to her surprise, he simply dipped his head. ‘Would you like a drink?’

‘I’d kill for one,’ she said on a shaky laugh.

His eyes skimmed her face. ‘What would you like?’

‘Champagne feels appropriate—to toast this development.’

‘The baby, or us having sex?’

She blinked at his statement, heat swirling through her. ‘That’s a little presumptuous, isn’t it?’

His eyes taunted her. ‘Is it?’

She glanced away, unable to respond.

‘Champagne it is.’

Her gaze drifted back to his as he moved to a bar in the corner and slid an expensive bottle from a small fridge, expertly removing the foil and then popping the cork, catching it in his hand and stifling most of the noise. He poured two glasses, carrying one across to her. When she took it, their fingers brushed, and Rosie’s breath snagged in her throat. She took a big gulp simply to bring moisture back to her mouth.

‘Okay. We should talk about the details.’

His eyes skimmed her face. ‘Already?’

She floundered. ‘Well, yes.’

‘What’s your rush? No conversational foreplay?’

‘Stop it,’ she said, but a smile teased her lips.

‘Stop what?’

‘Baiting me.’

‘Is that what I’m doing?’

‘You know it is.’

He lifted one shoulder. ‘You don’t enjoy flirting?’

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