Page 16 of Nigel

Fisting her hands onher hips, she glared at the doors he had closed. He was a man who wasaccustomed to giving orders and he expected her to fall in line. Hewas in for a big surprise. She sighed as her stomach rumbled. She wasin fact starving. The bagel and coffee from this morning was a fondmemory.

Turning around, shewent into the other room to see what needed to be done.

*****

He found a cold mealof mostly seafood and a salad. Taking them out, he found plates andutensils and some napkins. Going to the panel next to the hugepantry, he pushed a button to reveal rows of shelves holding bottlesof wine.

The panel wasdesigned in such a way that there was no need for him to chill thewine, because it was already done to perfection.

He selected a bottleof smooth red Costa Regal, thinking that the rich burgundy would gowell with the meal. He did feel a whole lot better and should bedoing some work. His assistant had sent some contracts to him to goover and he should be returning calls.

But Ava fascinatedhim. Here he was serving a meal for them to sit around the counterand enjoy. The kitchen was not his usual place to be of course. Itwas Mrs. Gordon's territory.

And he would betmillions that she was not really a maid. Her speech was too refinedand her voice too cultured. Besides that, she had no idea what to do.He had watched her neatening the bed sheets and they was not as neatand precise as they should be if she knew what she was doing. And hewas more than fascinated.

Putting the platesand napkins on the counter, he shook his head. He could not believehe was feeling lust for a woman he had just met. There it was insidehis lower body. She had a lovely face and a graceful way about her.She was big, but there was a grace about her that was undeniable.

Sensing her presence,he looked up to see her hovering just inside the doorway.

"I hope you arenot allergic to seafood."

He saw when shehesitated before coming into the room.

"This lookstasty."

"Sit. Let mepour the wine. It does not have enough alcohol to impair your senses.I know you have to drive back home." He poured and she watchedthe rich burgundy flow into the glass.

She should leave.This was not proper. She should not be having a meal with him. If oneof her ladies did this, they would be in trouble. But she was hungryand everything looked so wonderful.

"Have youfinished upstairs?"

"Yes." Shetook the plate he handed her.

"This is nice,"he murmured, hazel eyes watching her as she took a sip of the wine."What do you think?"

"It's a niceblend, kind of fruity."

"It is." Henodded in approval. "The Costa brand has a reputation fordelivering." He forked up a shrimp and popped it into his mouth."Tell me about yourself."

She looked at him insurprise. "Why?"

"Because I amcurious." Picking up his glass, he took a sip and then another,his eyes trained on her face. "You are not a maid."

"You are makingassumptions."

"You are not amaid," he repeated firmly. "Which leads me to believe thatyou are filling in for someone. What do you do when you are nothelping out - a friend? A relative?"

"Does itmatter?"

"I just want toknow."

"Why?"

"There is aquestion." Leaning back against the padded stool, he smiled ather and had her dazzled. "I am interested."

"In whatexactly?"

"In you."He laughed when she jolted and stared at him.

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