Page 17 of Goodnight
Goodie looked over at the other woman’s kind face; she was a little heavier and taller than Nick’s mother and was wearing an apron with the message ‘Hot stuff coming through!’ on the front.
‘Master Nicky got this for me,’ Mrs Beckett said, having noticed Goodie’s gaze dropping down. ‘He’s a one, isn’t he, Claire; got me a whole assortment of these over the years, each one cheekier than the last. Now, come and sit down, let me fuss you.’
And so, for the first time in her life, Goodie was fussed over, and for some reason she allowed it. Claire had asked if she would come up to have breakfast in the dining room, which had confused Goodie; why would they want her up there? These English people were crazy. Claire just smiled at her refusal before giving Mrs Beckett a side hug as she fried bacon at the stove, and then she turned to leave.
‘Where the bloody hell have you been?’ Goodie stared at a bristling Nick framed by the kitchen doorway. She’d never actually seen him without a suit on and was disappointed that even wearing jeans and a jumper he was still mind-numbingly beautiful. She stared at him, keeping her expression neutral.
‘Here,’ she said simply, taking another sip of her coffee.
‘Want some more coffee, Nick-Nack?’ Mrs Beckett asked as she came in from the dog’s room.
‘No, don’t worry, I’m …’ Nick trailed off as something behind Mrs B. caught his eye. ‘What the hell?’ he muttered as he strode over to the door which Mrs Beckett had just exited, and threw it open. Goodie watched as his gaze swept the room, his body locking with tension. When he turned to face her, she realized that he was stiff with rage.
‘Where did you sleep?’ he asked in a low, dangerous voice.
Goodie stared at him again before inclining her head towards the dog’s room. From the angry vibes he was giving out and his furious scowl, Goodie was guessing he had seen the blanket she had slept on next to the dogs last night, and for some reason he was not impressed by the arrangement.
‘We’ve got spare bedrooms coming out of our ears, Goodie. Why in the fu–?’ Nick broke off, flicking an almost nervous glance to Mrs Beckett who had crossed her arms over her ample chest. Goodie stifled a laugh; she would put money on the fact that Mrs Beckett had been a fixture at this house since Nick was a child, and the fact that he was unwilling to swear in front of her was testament to that and kind of … sweet.Sweet?When had Goodie thought anything wassweetin recent memory? She frowned; he was confusing her again. ‘Why on earth did you choose to sleep on the goddamn floor?’
Goodie pushed back in her chair and stood slowly from the table, keeping her gaze focused on Nick’s furious brown eyes the whole time. ‘You forget,’ she told him, ‘I am here to do a job.’
Nick threw up his arms in frustration and let out an angry breath. ‘You can do your job and sleep in abedfor Christ’s sake.’
‘Nick-Nack!’
‘Sorry, Mrs B.,’ he muttered, and Goodie had that ridiculous urge to laugh again.
‘I assessed the perimeter of the grounds yesterday, and then I assessed the security around the house. This back entrance to the kitchen is the weakest point. If I were looking for a way to get in, that is where I would start. With me sleeping at the entrance it is secure. This ismedoingmy job. You will note that I do not tell you how to do yours. I would appreciate the same courtesy.’
Both Nick’s hands went to his hips. ‘I’ll not have you sleeping on the floor with the bloody dogs.’
‘That is not your decision to make.’
‘Urgh!’ Nick huffed. ‘You are literally the most stubborn woman I have ever met.’
‘I’m not surprised,’ Goodie returned, her lip curling.
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘Nothing,’ she said, forcing her expression back to neutral; she didn’t know why she was letting him affect her like this. She didn’tdoangry exchanges with clients. In general she didn’t reveal any emotion at all if she could help it.
‘Bullshit.’
‘Nick!’
‘Sorry, Mrs B.’
She shrugged and turned away from him.
‘You’re scared to tell me what you meant, aren’t you?’ he said, skirting the table to approach her. Her eyes snapped back to his and she felt her temper rise.
‘If you must know, I am not surprised you find me more difficult than the other women of your acquaintance. I’m quite sure that when it comes to you they areveryaccommodating. But you’re not dealing with one of your simpering little idiots now, you arrogantzhopa;*Ihave a job to do and I am going to do it in the wayIchoose.’
Nick stared at her and narrowed his eyes. He was so close she could feel his breath on her face and smell his clean, masculine scent. For a moment her mind went blank.
* * *
Nick watchedas Goodie’s pupils dilated and her breathing grew shallow. It was subtle, but he knew he was affecting her. For a brief second she looked a little lost, as if she couldn’t understand what was happening.
