Page 10 of The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire

Had he been such an ogre that the tiniest hint of warmth surprised her?

Not just an ogre. You’ve been ungracious and arrogant, the creaky voice of his conscience whispered.

She might as well get used to the working conditions now as later, replied the ogre.

‘I lost track of the dates,’ he explained. That was anything but the truth. He’d been fixated on today’s date for months. This sombre anniversary had consumed his thoughts, and he’d ignored anything peripheral. ‘I’d planned to discuss Anna’s replacement with her before now. I hadn’t realised you were due to arrive so soon.’

Charlotte Symonds stared back, frowning. She didn’t believe him. But like a perfect employee, she nodded, the sunlight through the window catching her gilded hair.

‘I understand. It must have been a shock, seeing a stranger on your private island.’

Not as much of a shock as seeing her in the lake on the very anniversary of the day his wife had drowned there.

‘Conte Alessio? Are you okay?’

She looked about to rise. And what? Put one slim hand on his brow? He could almost feel her touch, not only on his face but elsewhere.

His chilled body thawed and ached. He told himself pain always followed a thaw. But this ache low in his body was different, something he’d never expected to feel again.

Abruptly he lifted his chin, looking down his nose. ‘Of course I’m okay.’

But Alessio didn’t feel it. His thoughts frayed, and making conversation was difficult. Images of this woman emerging half-naked from the lake kept playing across his mind, merging with older, less pleasant pictures.

He couldn’t remember when he’d last eaten. Yesterday? The day before? No wonder he wasn’t handling this well. He’d gone too long without food or rest, working for days straight. These unexpected sensations had nothing to do with Charlotte Symonds but with the way he’d neglected his body’s needs.

He looked at her and felt his groin grow heavy and tight as he considered those needs.

Ones beyond craving sleep and sustenance.

Something punched him hard in the gut.Shame.

He shot to his feet and strode to the desk. ‘We’ll continue this later.’ His voice was a growl.

‘But you haven’t told me aboutyourrequirements.’

Her words stroked fire through his belly. A fire he doused with the chill of remembrance.

Alessio sank onto his desk chair, opening a computer screen, not allowing himself to look her way.

‘Later, Ms Symonds. Settle in and find your way around thecastello. We’ll talk about my requirements later.’

CHAPTER THREE

LATERMEANTMUCHLATER.

Several times through the day, Charlotte went up the tower’s curving staircase to his study. Each time the door was shut. She’d been warned never to interrupt the Conte at work, and his expression when he’d dismissed her this morning made it clear their discussion wasn’t a priority.

He’d already been looking at his computer screen, eyes narrowed in concentration as if he’d forgotten her presence.

Was it business that put him in that tetchy mood? His deep green eyes had held a febrile glitter that spoke of something more than concentration.

Emotion, and deep emotion at that.

She’d glimpsed hints of it despite his aristocratic hauteur and his grouchiness, like a bear disturbed in its den. He didn’t like dealing with a newcomer, but instinct told her there was more to it than that.

You’re not being paid to understand him.

Yet no matter how busy she’d been during the day, her thoughts strayed back to that fierce, daunting man who’d ruffled her composure as no one had in years.

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