A Spinster's Awakening (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 2)

“I have brought you some breakfast,” she offered, too wary of his apparent bad temper to offer him even a small smile.

Before he could say anything, Charity pushed the tray into Angus’s midriff, leaving him with no choice but to try to take the heavy object off her. Unfortunately, his fingers slid straight over hers. As though branded, he immediately removed his hands, without taking the weight of the tray and abruptly stepped back. Charity gasped as she nearly dropped the contents of the tray all over the floor. Glaring at him, she stepped into the room and looked around.

“Where do you want me to put it?” she snapped dourly.

Charity had little choice but to wait while Angus backed into the room and shoved a sheaf of paperwork off the side table next to the bed.

“You don’t need to do this, you know,” he said as he eyed the tray with a rumbling stomach. The toast, jam, butter, ham, pie and wine she had was a positive bounty compared to what he usually ate while working. The smell of it was divine as she passed it beneath his nose. Even so, he had to remain professional. “Thank you for the kind offer, though.”

“Surely some food won’t hurt, will it?” Charity demanded sharply, wondering why he was being so ungracious.

“Not while I am working,” he declared, a hint of finality in his voice.

Charity slid the tray onto the table anyway and left Angus to contemplate its contents while she wandered over to the window. A startled gasp escaped her as she was suddenly swung around with a swiftness that left her off balance. She clutched at the hard arm held firmly around her waist, not least to have something to hang on to so she didn’t fall flat on her face.

“What are you doing?” she whispered as she clutched the thick bicep beneath her fingers.

“Stay away from the window,” Angus growled menacingly.

Charity shoved his arm away and whirled to face him. It was only then that she realised just how small she was in comparison to him. She hadn’t noticed it last night, but it was there. In broad daylight, she had to tip her head far back to be able to look up into his chiselled features. So much so she felt herself teetering backward when her eyes met his. The force of the instant attraction she felt made it difficult to breathe. All thoughts escaped her but every sense she possessed was tuned to him and only him. Nothing else was as important as he was. Nothing else mattered, not the kidnapper living opposite, the neighbours who might be able to

see them, his anger toward her over last night, or her worry that she was being foolhardy allowing any intimacy with a man who was going to leave anyway.

But, wasn’t it a good idea to savour any moment she could spend with him while he was there? She couldn’t be sure but couldn’t find the will to keep her distance.

Angus was oblivious to the direction of her thoughts. He was too busy cursing himself for having touched her again, even accidentally. He had already spent one long, cold and frustrated night staring at the house opposite, willing himself not to think about the woman who was tucked up in bed mere feet away. The temptation to joint her had been his private battle and he was exhausted from it.

“We don’t know who can see into the room. Just stay out of sight and away from the windows up here, that’s all,” Angus bit out. He sighed when he read hurt on her face, and realised he was being far too sharp with her. “I know this is your house, but this is my investigation. It is safer for you not to get involved.”

“I am sorry, but I think you should consider one or two pertinent facts before you issue any more orders,” Charity retorted coldly. “I think it would be darned odd if my curtains and shutters weren’t opened seeing as that is what I do every morning.”

Angus mentally cursed. “Just leave the investigating to me,” he warned.

“I am,” she protested with far too much innocence for his peace of mind.

“No, you are not,” Angus argued. “You are getting yourself in the window and making yourself noticed.”

“This is my house,” she protested. “Why should anybody think anything suspicious about me looking out of my own window?”

“They might catch sight of me,” Angus hissed, but his argument was feeble at best.

“Well, stay out of the way then,” Charity snapped.

Angus growled.

“Just what is your problem?” Charity whirled on him and placed her hands on her hips, if only so she had something to do with her hands. If she kept them free she was going to wrap them around his neck. She had never met anybody so argumentative before in her life, and it was enough to drive her out of her mind with frustration.

Angus leaned toward her. “Because you are doing everything I have already asked you not to do. I need you to stay out of the investigation ergo stay away from this room. Do not go poking your head out of the window, wandering into other people’s houses or gossip with anybody right now, is that clear? More importantly, do not go on any more fool’s errands like you did last night. Are you deliberately trying to get yourself killed?”

“I didn’t realise I had to be put under house arrest,” Charity huffed, more than a little hurt by his abruptness. “I only brought you some breakfast.”

I wish I hadn’t bothered now, she mused churlishly.

“I will see to my own food but thank you for offering. One of the men will be here in a while to take over. I will go and get some sleep and food then,” Angus muttered, feeling utterly churlish for eschewing her generosity so briskly. When he forced himself to speak he made sure his voice was more contrite, even though it lost none of its crisp, authoritative command. “It is the way we work I am afraid. Anything could happen very quickly while I am away from the window. Look at how swiftly the man moved last night.”

“Every morning, I open my shutters.” Charity insisted, carefully ignoring him. “I don’t see any reason I shouldn’t do the same today. You will have to relocate yourself somewhere else if you don’t wish to be seen.”

“I know. You said it is what you do every morning and the neighbours will get suspicious if you don’t,” Angus replied patiently.