The Maid's Best Kept Secret (The Marchetti Dynasty 1)

‘Since my mother died I’ve appreciated a...a quiet space to mourn her.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘But in any case I’m not really the clubbing type.’

Except right now the thought of clubbing was almost attractive. A way to defuse the intensity of the atmosphere in the room between her and Nikos Marchetti. Which she had to be imagining. A man like him moved in circles far removed from country houses in quiet rural Ireland.

That prompted her to ask, ‘Why did you buy this house?’

He arched a brow. ‘I need a reason?’

Embarrassed, she said, ‘Of course not...it just doesn’t seem like the kind of place for a man like...’ She trailed off, mortified now.

‘It’s an investment. I thought I might buy some race horses in the future, and I’d need a house with stables.’

Maggie didn’t fully believe this perfectly plausible explanation. And she didn’t even know why. She hardly knew this man.

‘What prompted you to come here this evening?’ she asked.

‘Has anyone ever told you you ask a lot of questions?’ he said.

Maggie flushed and smiled sheepishly. ‘My mother—all the time. Maggie the Inquisitor, she used to call me.’

Once again Nikos was surprised by how honest she was, and the way she seemed to have no fear of him. It was refreshing. And arousing.

The truth was that he’d come here because he’d wanted to escape the claustrophobic confines of that function. He’d intended flying straight back to London, but the next scheduled flight wasn’t until the following morning, and Nikos refused to use private air transport unless absolutely necessary.

He’d been about to book a hotel. But then he’d remembered his house. The house he’d never even visited. And so he’d come here feeling restless. Unsettled.

And then she’d opened the door and his brain had seized in a paroxysm of lust.

As if sensing the direction of his thoughts, she drained her glass and put it down on the tray. ‘Thank you for the drink, but if you’ll just tell me what time you want breakfast I’ll have it ready for you in the morning.’

She looked at him and all he could see were those huge blue eyes. The two pink spots of colour in her cheeks. A pulse beating hectically in her neck. Breasts rising and falling under her shirt with her breaths.

The chemistry between them was so tangible he could taste it. He knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. If there was anything he was expert in, it was women and desire.

He said, ‘I couldn’t care less about breakfast. Are you really going to pretend you don’t feel it too?’

Maggie’s heart stopped. And then started again in an irregular rhythm. Maybe she’d misheard.

‘I’m sorry—what did you say?’

He smiled a slow smile and it was pure sin. She could feel heat creeping up over her chest into her cheeks. So much for hoping to create a more professional atmosphere by cutting this late-night drink short.

‘You heard me, Maggie.’

Her name from his mouth... It trailed over her skin like raw silk, leaving goosebumps behind.

She swallowed. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go to bed now.’

She turned to leave, skin prickling and heart thumping, even as part of her ached to see just where his words might go. No man had ever had this effect on her. She didn’t know how to handle it. How to be blasé, nonchalant. A man like Nikos Marchetti would chew her up and spit her out. Of that she had no doubt.

Before she reached the door, though, he said from behind her, ‘Aren’t you even curious? Do you know how rare it is to feel chemistry this powerful with another person?’

No! Because she’d never experienced anything like it before and it intimidated the hell out of her even as it thrilled her. She was a virgin, and totally out of her depth with a man like this.

Reluctantly she turned around to face him again. ‘I think there must have been plenty of women at your event this evening who would have been only too happy to explore your mutual chemistry.’

He made a face. ‘I didn’t want any of those women. But the moment I saw you I wanted you. That hasn’t happened to me in a long time.’

A shiver of longing went through Maggie before she could stop it.