Page 25 of Unforgiven in Cheshire Bay

Pulsating currents of heated electricity shot up my arm, and I chanced a gaze into his eyes. He held me there for several heartbeats before he cleared his throat and backed away.

It was the most sensual moment I’d had since, well, it had been a long time. Guys didn’t date pregnant women, they didn’t date single mothers with a newborn, and they sure as hell didn’t date a woman with a toddler. Once that pregnancy stick popped up with two lines, my future dates were already written off.

Hands shaking from the most contact I’d had in years, I set the layer back on the table. “I’m glad you like it. How are the renovations going?”

“On schedule, thank Christ.”

“Oh?”

“I hate renovations. Everything isa mess, everything in disarray, and you can never find what you’re looking for when you need it.”

“Like a metamorphosis.”

He pointed at me with a smile on his face. “Exactly. I like that.”

“From the caterpillar emerges a butterfly, different in so many ways, yet still the same on the inside, just better and stronger too.”

“Sounds like you speak from experience?” His brow lifted with the question, and he took a bite of his pastry.

“Oh no, I am no butterfly,and I am still fully ensconced in my cocoon. My metamorphosis is so far from complete, it’s not even close.” I dusted off a stool for David, and then took a seat at my desk. “Please.”

“I really can’t stay. I just wanted to check on things.”

“Do you do this with your staff too?” The taste of the spices from the tea was invigorating.

“What’s that? Bring them treats?” Helifted the danish into the air.

“No, the micromanaging.”

He chuckled and straightened himself up. “Is that what you think I’m doing?”

Iplayfully shrugged and kept my focus on him. “Maybe?”

“I don’t micromanage.”

I cocked an eyebrow, wishing it lookedas cute as Libby when she did it. It was hard to take her seriously when it popped onto her face.

“Fine, maybe I do it a little.”

“Admitting it is the first step. Congratulations.”

He nearly spit out his drink with his laugh. “You’re funny.”

“Not really, I just happen to have a tendency to say what’s on my mind.”

“You have no idea how refreshing that is.”

“Really now? I thought men loved it when girls played dumb, curled their hair around their fingers while batting their long, fake lashes, and say whatever a man wants to hear.” I attempted to flirt with my eyes, but the speed necessary was giving me a headache.

He snorted and steppedcloser. “Maybe some guys, but I am not one of those.” He turned all serious, and somehow the intensity forming on his face was intriguing rather than threatening. “You want the truth?”

“Always.”

“I came here today to see if you…” A sharp inhale cut through the space. “Would you like to go out with me?”

Chapter Nine

Gobsmacked was the best word I could come up with, and my stuttered response wasn’t much better.

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