When she heard the sound of a car door closing and an engine starting, Claire noticed the goblet was empty in her hand and was surprised how much time had passed. As the knob on the back door began to turn, she sat frozen at the breakfast bar, her cheeks heating as she realized she would have to face Linc after what he’d said about her. Why hadn’t she gone upstairs?
“You’re still up,” Linc said, entering the kitchen.
“I came down to put everything away before morning.” She gestured at the tidy, organized space with her glass. “And have some wine.”
“You deserve to relax after such a long day.”
“Just part of what I signed up for when I became your housekeeper.” With her body moving of its own accord, leaning into the space between them, suddenly Claire recognized the importance of maintaining her distance. What better way than by bringing up her role in his house.
“Maybe, but you’re more than just my housekeeper.”
You might not be sleeping with Claire, but you want to.
Heat flared as Knox’s words came back to haunt her. “You did hire me for my cooking skills.”
“They are pretty spectacular.”
Claire sneaked several glances in his direction and decided the conversation she’d overheard earlier hadn’t meant anything. Nothing about his expression gave any indication that he was attracted to her. Was she doing as good a job concealing her own feelings? Claire hoped so.
The last thing she needed was for Linc to pick up on her impossible longing for him. The best she could hope for was that he’d be flattered by her interest. The worst thing that could happen would be they’d cross a line, and then everything would blow up in her face. She couldn’t risk having that happen. What if he kicked Honey and her out and she had to scramble to find a new place to live and work?
“You could’ve left everything until morning.” His gaze drifted from her eyes to her lips and then over her sleepwear. “Looks like you’re ready for bed.”
Claire cursed herself for trembling in reaction to his lazy smile. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep, imagining the mess. You know how I am about the kitchen.”
“Clutter is definitely your Achilles’ heel.” Linc set two crystal tumblers in the sink. “I challenge you to leave those unwashed until tomorrow.”
“Ha ha. Very funny.” But her fingers twitched as she regarded the dirty glasses.
“It’s making you crazy, isn’t it?”
“A little.”
Bantering like this with Linc made it easier for her to ignore the drumbeat of her heart at his nearness. Did the man have any idea of the power of his sex appeal? How could he not with all the advertisers clamoring for him to represent their product, the Armani cologne being the latest?
He turned on the faucet and ran water into the glasses. “I’m happy to wash them. It’s the least I can do after how hard you worked to make the dinner party a success.” He gestured toward her empty crystal goblet. “If you’re done with that, I can do it as well.”
“I was just having a glass of wine,” she replied, unsure why she felt compelled to explain herself. “Some of the leftover Soave.”
“Which one was that?”
“The one I paired with the scallops.”
Linc nodded. “That was nice. Dry with a note of peach.” He arched an eyebrow at her. “What? You’re surprised I remember it?”
“I did throw a lot of different wines at you.”
“Showing off?”
“A little. I thought your first post-London dinner party should be memorable.”
“You succeeded.”
Claire immediately wished she hadn’t mentioned London. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I shouldn’t have brought up London.