‘I’m sorry for our rocky start this evening, Ruiz. I hope the soup makes up for it.’
‘I’m sorry too,’ he said. ‘I was hardly Señor Charming earlier.’ She was a friend of his sister’s, he told himself sternly. It was his duty to be nice to her. Equally, it was his duty not to seduce her. ‘Why don’t we forget it and start over? Minestrone.’ He hummed with appreciation. ‘My favourite.’
‘Really?’ She seemed surprised. ‘I had you down as more of a vichyssoise man.’
‘Oh, please. Do you think I have my newspapers ironed before I read them too?’
‘I’ll be sure to be up early enough to do so, sir.’
‘Be sure you are,’ he teased, holding the emerald gaze until her cheeks flushed red.
A friend of his sister’s? His good intentions where Holly was concerned weren’t holding up too well, Ruiz concluded, registering the pressure in his jeans. ‘Hurry up, I’m hungry,’ he commanded mock-sternly, hoping that by adopting the role of master of the house he would distract them both.
Holly smiled and shook her head. ‘Do you treat all your staff like this?’
‘My staff?’ he queried.
‘The people you pay to do things for you,’ she teased him.
‘Was that supposed to be a joke?’ he countered, finding he couldn’t bring himself to avoid the extraordinary green gaze and that he really didn’t want to.
‘What do you think?’ She laughed.
‘I think you like living dangerously, Ms Valiant,’ he said quietly.
Holly’s smile died. He got the distinct impression that this brush with a man who really liked her was too much too soon f
or Holly. ‘Do you think Bouncer would like some soup?’ she asked him in a decidedly humourless tone.
‘If you sprinkle cheese on it I doubt he could refuse,’ he said, matching Holly for matter-of-factness. This was like trying to win the trust of a damaged pony. He couldn’t lay his cards on the table—tell her she was beautiful and that he wanted her. He had to earn her trust and wait for Holly to come to him. She was graceful, he thought as she dipped low to feed the dog. She was kind and gentle and funny too. This was proving to be an unexpected distraction and he was enjoying tonight more than he could possibly have imagined.
‘I realise this must be awkward for you,’ she began as she straightened up.
‘Awkward?’ he queried.
‘Living together like this,’ she explained. ‘I’m not exactly experienced when it comes to flatmates.’
He doubted she was experienced in any sense. ‘Don’t worry. You won’t be seeing a lot of me.’
She laughed. ‘Can I have that in writing, please?’
‘And when I’m here I promise to keep out of your way,’ he added.
‘That’s all I need to know,’ she said, but her darkening eyes told a different story.
As they settled down to drink the soup together either side of the kitchen table it occurred to him that, as Lucia’s friend, Holly was practically an honorary member of the family and so deserving of his protection, which was ironic when what she needed was protection from him.
‘Soup okay, Ruiz?’
‘It’s delicious,’ he said. It was. And when she smiled like that, looking so relieved and happy, he knew that Holly was as oblivious to her talents as she was to her beauty. It was when she cut a fresh slice from the crispy loaf, saying, ‘I like a man with a healthy appetite,’ that he had to reach for the butter and pretend he hadn’t heard what she’d said. ‘Hey, Bouncer.’ He called the dog to draw the spotlight off her. ‘Are you snoring?’ he suggested as the big mutt grunted in his sleep.
‘You’re asking questions of a sleeping dog?’ Holly enquired, watching him chin on hand.
‘Is that permitted?’ he teased, thinking how beautiful her eyes were.
Shaking her head, she smiled. ‘I think you love that dog. Don’t worry, I’ll clear up,’ she said, pushing her chair back.
‘Let me help you,’ he offered, realising how much he wanted to be close to her.