Page 28 of Dangerous Temptation
Maybe she needed to go to the source.
‘All right,’ she agreed before she could over-think her decision.
There was a burst of air, almost as if he’d been holding his breath. ‘I look forward to seeing you.’
The last time they’d seen each other, they’d both been naked.
‘I’ll be there,’ she promised.
Elena was nervous when she knocked on the door to the main house. She tugged her jacket tighter around herself and felt a rock bite through the bottom of her pump. Her ankles were sore from the walk up the hill in heels, but she’d known better than to arrive in jeans or yoga pants. She’d been officially invited to dinner. After her last encounter in Wolfe Manor, she wanted to put on as mature a front as she could. In fact, she’d debated whether she should go to the front door, but that had seemed too formal. So she waited for the kitchen door to open, her stomach swirling and her thoughts racing.
She’d considered cancelling about a hundred times. She’d even picked up the phone twice, but he’d said ‘just dinner’ and they did need to talk. She couldn’t carry on like this, with energy snapping between them every time they came close.
They needed to clear the air.
Still, she had to fight off the desperate urge to turn tail and flee when she heard footsteps approaching.
‘There you are, dear. Welcome.’ Questions were in Leonard’s eyes, but a smile was on his face as he opened the door wide. He stepped back and gave a sweeping gesture, encouraging her to enter. ‘Come in before the mist starts up again. We wouldn’t want you to catch a chill.’
The kitchen was warm and inviting as she stepped inside. ‘It smells wonderful in here. I hope you haven’t gone to too much effort.’
‘Nonsense. This place was made for entertaining. Wasn’t it, Marta?’
The cook looked up from the kitchen island where she was preparing asparagus. Her cheeks were pink and she was beaming with pride. ‘It does feel good to fire up the kitchen again. All these professional shiny appliances and nobody to –’
Her words stopped abruptly when she realised where they were leading.
Leonard smoothly stepped in. ‘Let me help you with your jacket.’
Elena turned, but prickles of awareness dotted her spine when she heard other footsteps echoing.
‘I’ll do that.’
The low rumble set those prickles dancing and she glanced over her shoulder. Her gaze connected with grey eyes that reminded her of the clouds outside. Heavy-lidded and stormy. Alex stood in the doorway to the main hall, the one she’d slinked down the other day.
The inquisitive look on Leonard’s face intensified, but, ever the professional, he nodded. ‘Of course, Master Wolfe. I’ll go prepare the table in the breakfast nook as you requested.’
Leonard might have put on a placid front, but the cook stared openly, her gaze darting back and forth between her boss and their guest. Elena bit her lip. She could only imagine what the woman was thinking.Somebodyhad picked up her clothes, washed them and packed them.
‘Marta, could you help me?’
The cook snapped upright as if goosed. Backing away, she went to assist Leonard. She didn’t allow room for her girth as she headed to the open archway and she bumped into the refrigerator. Her pink cheeks brightened. ‘Excuse me.’
Elena’s gaze swung back to the remaining person in the room.
Alex looked sharp and important. Intimidating and sexy in a crisp white shirt and black pants. His blue tie brought out the colour of his eyes, and that gaze wasn’t moving from her. He held a glass of amber liquid, and the ice in the tumbler clinked as he set it on the breakfast bar. The high-pitched jingles sounded lyrical and threatening as he moved towards her.
Her jacket. Right.
Bending her head forward, she untied the belt. She was pulling the jacket off her shoulders when she felt his hands cover hers. The contact was warm and deliberate. She drew in a fast breath as she felt him come and stand behind her.
‘Allow me,’ he said, his breath sliding over her ear.
She’d caught her hair up on one side in a barrette, and goosebumps rose on her neck. Whatever she thought of the other day, this was something she hadn’t overblown in her mind – the way she felt when he touched her. Her hands dropped helplessly to her sides.
He drew her jacket over her shoulders, his knuckles skimming her bare arms. He wasn’t touching her anywhere else, but she was aware of his presence behind her. Big, hard and immovable. He’d been like a ghost ever since he’d arrived home, but now he was manifesting. Real, male and dominant.
The moment she was free, she turned to face him. ‘Thank y –’
