Page 15 of One Hot Deal

"Yes, ma'am."

"Stop calling me that, please."

He straightens his tie."Sure thing, Ms.Sangster."

The infernal man called me that just before we had sex.I don't think I'll be able to stand hearing him call me "Ms.Sangster" without remembering what we did.Of course, we'll be doing that again.And again.And again.However long it takes to accomplish the task.

Derek turns to walk toward the living room.

The doorbell rings.

We both freeze.He glances over his shoulder at me, and I swerve my gaze back and forth between him and the door.

The bell rings again.

Derek nods toward it."Would you like me to see who it is?"

"No, no, I can do it.This is my home, after all."

I march up to the door, but before I can check the security camera, Derek clears his throat.

"Might want to pull your dress down, Ms.Sangster."

I feel my brows tightening, but when I glance down at my body, my jaw drops."Oh, bollocks."

Yes, my dress is still hiked up over my hips.

Once I've yanked it down, I check the camera screen as the visitor rings the bell yet again."Bugger me."

"Who is it?"Derek asks.

"Hugh and Avery."

The bloody man chuckles."Great.Let them in."

I whirl around to give him my back and grasp the doorknob.Motion behind me and to my right spurs me to glance sideways at Derek.

He just plucked my knickers off the floor.Now, he stuffs them into his pocket and winks at me.

I swing the door open and paste on a professional smile."Good morning.What are you two doing here on a Saturday morning?"

"Visiting you," Avery says."Well, you and Derek.He told us his crew got food poisoning and he'd be with you all day.Hugh and I thought we'd keep you guys company."

Her smile seems a bit too cheery.Hugh seems a bit too casual.What are these two plotting?I'm older than the pair of them, which means I have the experience to realize when these youngsters are trying to interfere in my life.

Avery boosts up on her tiptoes and smiles even more cheerily."There you are, Derek."

"Yeah, here I am."

Hugh clasps Avery's hand, then pushes past me while dragging his fiancée along with him."Should we play games?"

I shut the door."I don't own any games.Unless you enjoy theFinancial Timescrossword puzzle."

Hugh releases his fiancée's hand so he can dig something out of his trouser pocket."Good thing I brought this."

The man is holding a deck of cards.

"I don't know any card games," I say, trying not to let my annoyance show in my voice.I still feel off balance after what Derek and I did moments ago."If you're in a gaming mood, you'll need to go elsewhere."

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