Page 12 of Marry Me…Maybe?
‘You’ll survive.’
She huffed out a sigh, hoping he couldn’t feel the tremble in her hand. ‘Okay, but you have to promise to be celibate too… until this thing is over.’
‘That won’t be a problem.’
She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Are you made of stone or something?’
‘It has been suggested,’ he said, releasing her arm and walking back to the table to push the chairs back under it.
‘Look, if you’re worried this is actually some elaborate plot to trap you into marriage and steal all your money, then don’t be. I have plenty of my own money. I don’t need to steal someone else’s.’
‘It never crossed my mind,’ he said, his back to her.
She couldn’t tell if he was being serious. His tone was so dry it almost cracked the air.
He turned back, his expression closed. ‘We’ve probably got enough information to go on for now,’ he said, ‘and I have things I need to deal with before my mother comes back.’ He pointed afinger at her in a commanding manner, as if she was a naughty puppy. ‘Wait here.’
She watched him stride out of the room, wondering what he was going to fetch. A horse whip, perhaps? Or a pair of shackles? The mere thought of it only intensified the low hum of erotic tension that had plagued her all afternoon.
How could he be immune to the heat between them?
Perhaps she’d pushed him too hard, too fast? Normally it wouldn’t bother her if she made a man uncomfortable with her brazenness, but she didn’t want to jeopardise this thing with Theo.
Truth be told, she was flabbergasted by his assertion that he wouldn’t sleep with her. No one had ever turned her down before, and the challenge of getting him to change his mind had now embedded itself firmly in her mind.
She really wasn’t looking for anything serious, so why the heck shouldn’t they have some fun together? There was clearly a spark of attraction between them, even if he was refusing to acknowledge it.
It wasn’t as if she was under any illusions about where she fitted in the grand theatre of life. She saw herself as the ruthless ex-lover that sweet, wholesome women saved their damaged alpha conquests from. In fact, it amused her to think of herself as the facilitator of other people’s Happy-Ever-Afters.
According to the gutter press she had loose morals, but she didn’t cheat or mess around with men already in relationships – that was where she drew the line. She didn’t need undying love from a man; she needed hot sex, excitement and new experiences. The men she dated usually served that requirement, but unfortunately, they tended to be self-absorbed and rather vacuous.
Theo was a whole other proposition. Smart, philanthropic and attractive. It was a heady mixture. One she was keen to have a lick of.
He returned a moment later, pen and paper in hand.
‘Write your phone number down on here and I’ll call you later to confirm the details about tomorrow,’ he said, dropping them onto the table.
She dipped into a low curtsey. ‘Yes, m’lord.’
He flashed her a disparaging look, clearly not in the mood for any more teasing. ‘Let yourself out.’
Swivelling on the spot, he marched away, his feet making a heavy slapping sound on the flagstone floor.
‘You’ve been a great audience,’ she called after him, making sure sarcasm dripped from every syllable.
When she got home to London, the first thing Emily did was call Lula to tell her that she’d 99per cent sorted out the wedding reception venue problem.
‘Just give me a couple more days and I’ll have it all wrapped up and reconfirmed. Don’t worry, it’ll happen – I’ll make sure of it.’
‘How the heck did you swing it, Em?’ Lula asked, her husky DJ’s voice light with relief.
‘I used my feminine wiles,’ she replied, experiencing a surge of relief to hear her friend sounding so happy again.
‘Please tell me you didn’t sleep with him.’ Lula’s tone was jokey, but there was just a hint of expectancy in it.
‘Of course not. I just made a very good case. He is rather gorgeous, though. In fact, he’s asked me out on a date. I’m going over for Sunday lunch tomorrow.’
‘Jeez, Em, you’re a fast worker.’
