Page 35 of Undercover Infidel
The mental image of a dark-haired child with Con’s eyes and my button nose made my heart constrict.
Good God—one night sleeping beside him, and I was imagining our hypothetical offspring?
“Planning to steal my baby pictures for blackmail?”
I nearly dropped the frame, spinning around to find Con leaning against the doorjamb arms crossed over his chest. He’d thrown on a T-shirt and flannel bottoms, his feet bare on the stone floor. His hair was tousled from sleep, and a stubbled shadow darkened his jaw. The combination was devastating.
“You caught me,” I replied, setting the photo down. “I was negotiating with several tabloids for exclusive rights.”
He chuckled, the sound low and warm as he crossed the room toward me. “Find anything particularly incriminating?”
“The photo with the car. Not exactly the imposing Earl of Blackmoor image you cultivate now.”
“Ah, yes. My first vehicle—bought with money I made selling an algorithm I’d designed. My father was livid. He wanted me to focus on my studies, not ‘dabble in computer nonsense,’ as he put it.”
Con stood close enough now that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “I was disappointed to wake and find you gone.”
My throat tightened at the quiet admission. “I needed to think.”
“About the same thing I’ve been.”
I smiled. “Reading my mind now?”
He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingertips lingering against my cheek. “Let’s have breakfast. I’m famished.”
The moment broke, and I followed him toward the morning room, trying to sort through my jumbled emotions. Last night had changed something fundamental between us. The tension remained, but it had transformed from adversarial to anticipatory. Each accidental touch as we walked side by side sent desire straight to my core.
Breakfast was set out the same way it had been every day since I arrived. As Con poured coffee, his eyes met mine over the rim of his cup.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked.
“I’d like to meet with Dr. McLaren if she’s available.”
“You should reach out to her. I expect she and Ambrose will be back from Stirling by now.”
His easy agreement surprised me. “No objections this time?”
“You made your point yesterday. I respect your judgment.” He spread marmalade on his toast, then licked some off his finger. The sight made me dizzy. God, how I wanted this man.
“Lex? Still with me?”
“Sorry, what? I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“I said, if our suspicions about Orlov are correct, her insights could prove invaluable.”
“Yes. Most definitely,” I acknowledged, slathering marmalade on my toast like he had. When I turned around to join him at the table, he was standing right behind me.
“You’re distracted,” he said, taking my plate from my hand and setting it on the sideboard. “Anything you want to talk about?”
You. Me. Naked. Back in bed.I wondered how he’d react if I threw caution out the window and said it out loud. Sadly, for me to ever get up the nerve to, I’d have to have a complete personality transplant. “I, err, should probably message Dr. McLaren now.” I skirted around him and out into the hall, where I leaned against the stone wall, hoping it would cool me off. Evelyn, not that I ever called her that, responded almost immediately, inviting me to join her at Ashcroft midafternoon.
“All set?” he asked when I returned and saw he’d moved my plate to the table where he sat.
“Yes. Ashcroft at fifteen hundred.”
“I’d like to join you.”
My eyes met his, and the challenge I saw in them previously was gone. “I’m sure Dr. McLaren wouldn’t mind.”
