Bargain in Bronze

She shook her head.

“And there wasn’t really a circus troupe?”

“Actually there was.” She suddenly smiled, finally looking up at him. The bruised edge in her eyes smote his heart all over again.

“I went to boarding school after they died, and in the holidays I’d stay with my aunt in a seaside town in Devon. Every summer the circus came and I spent every day down there. I used to sit in school and dream of running away to the circus. But I never did learn to throw knives.”

“You couldn’t live with your aunt?” he asked.

“She was older, never had children and didn’t really want them. She felt boarding school was best. In some ways I guess it was.” She paused. “You didn’t send Anne and Tom to boarding school.”

“We needed to be together,” he said softly. “They’d been through enough. I was paranoid about Tom having a relapse and Anne was young.”

“I wish I’d had a brother like you.”

“Libby,” he pulled her closer and let his hands go beyond polite boundaries. “I’m really glad I’m not your brother.”

Laughing, she tilted her chin for his kiss.

…

“You know you don’t have to stay here each night,” Libby said three nights later. “You still don’t trust me?”

“It’s not safe for you to be here alone after hours.” He didn’t even look up from his infernal emailing as he spoke.

“Why, what am I going to do?”

“It’s a Saturday night, drunk jerks walk past every other minute—they spot you?” he shook his head. “I wouldn’t leave any woman alone in here any night of the week.”

So it wasn’t about spending time with her? It was just for her safety? Any woman’s safety? She sucked in a small breath. Good to know. She swallowed and braced herself for his reaction to her news. “I’ve had a letter from my insurance company.”

He looked up then. “And?”

“Check attached.”

“That’s great.” His whole face lit up.

“I’ll be able to rent new premises and increase production.” Libby forced a smile. She was pleased about it. Really pleased. She’d been validated and vindicated. And she wouldn’t have to use this bakery after hours for much longer.

“That’s fantastic news.” Jack looked at her and then back to his iPad. “You’ll be rebuilding the business in no time.”

So there she had it. He wasn’t bothered about her time here coming to an end soon. Well, good. Because neither was she.

She looked at where he sat opposite, still working on his damn iPad. Other than when he was inclined to play with her, he always sat fully focused on whatever it was he was checking. All of a sudden it really ticked her off. “Do you ever not work?”

He glanced up and looked at her blankly. “What do you mean?”

“Like when did you last have a holiday?”

“When did you?” he countered. “I think the pot is calling the kettle here.”

“That’s only because I’m starting up. I still know how to have fun.”

“You’re spinning stories again.” He put the iPad on the bench. “When was the last time you went to a concert or a play or a football game? When did you last go clubbing? When did you last go to the pub on a Friday night with your workmates? When did you last have fun?”

She met his amused eyes and flicked her brows. His expression matched her wickedness in a heartbeat.

She shouldn’t do this. She should definitely end it now. She’d meant to after that first night. But when a guy this gorgeous tempted? And when she knew how amazing it was? And when it would only be for another day or two…

And it wasn’t just for her. He’d had such a lot to deal with—the responsibility of two siblings, the finances, the company. Then there was the loss he’d suffered. Twice over—first his mother, then his father and stepmother. She knew exactly how much that hurt. How reluctant he probably was to be vulnerable to that kind of pain again. Empathy flooded her. So did the desire to see him laugh. She couldn’t help but want to give him some fun.

Just once more. She mentally stuffed away the worried whisper in her soul and lifted the bottle of maple syrup from the bench. “I know what you really want me to do with this.” She shimmied up to him.

“You think you do, huh?” He reached out and ran a finger down her arm, encircling her wrist.

She nodded. “Quite certain of it.”

He kept a firm hold on her wrist and took the bottle from her with his other hand. “But do you know what I want to do with the maple syrup?”

He led her home—to the shower, stripping himself then her and flicking the taps so it was steaming in no time.

Biting her lip, Libby stood before him as he drizzled the runny syrup over her breasts. But any desire to laugh disappeared the second he stroked his fingers through the slick stickiness. Have mercy, who’d have thought the sensation could be so enhanced? Her knees weakened, her lungs struggled to draw in enough oxygen in the sultry atmosphere.

“This is a terrible waste of high priced maple syrup,” she muttered.

“It’s not a waste.”

She quivered as he caressed and then kissed. “I might discover it has skin rejuvenating properties.”

“You could expand your business,” he licked—so sublimely. “Luxury skincare with maple syrup as the secret ingredient.”

“Either that or a maple-flavored lubricant,” she panted.

“From cereal to sex-aids,” he chuckled, reaching for the shower nozzle. “One woman’s leap in business.”

He spun her away from him and then drew her down, kneeling behind her at the same time and encouraging her to use him as her “chair”. She slid onto him—wet and ready to ride. He groaned delightedly against the back of her neck as she bowed her head, closing her eyes in ecstasy. He held the nozzle, raining water on her shoulders and breasts as they moved—slick and fast and so carnal. Then he changed the direction of the waterfall, pointing the jet of water between her legs and thrusting even harder into her. The pressure of the warm water enhanced every sensation. His other hand cupped and slid over her maple-sticky breasts. Oh, he could be very inventive.

All Libby could do was cry out, quiver and come.

Chapter Nine

“You’ve never been rowing?”

He made it sound like she was as deprived as a child who’d never had an ice cream on a summer’s day.

“No.”

It was a glorious Sunday morning—absolute ice-cream weather—and she’d found his suggestion they stroll along the Thames river walk irresistible. Just today. One more day.

London was tourist dense ordinarily, but this morning it was like one giant fairground. Hordes of people were out and about and bunting was strung everywhere. Brightly colored tourist kio

sks had popped up, adding to the effervescent, energetic atmosphere. The city was alive and humming.

“Come on. I’ll take you to the club, we can go double sculls.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. It’ll be fun.”

Libby didn’t think rowing looked all that much fun—it looked like damn hard work. You had to have mega-muscles and more stamina than anyone. “You used to compete?” she asked as she walked alongside him.

“Back in the day.” He nodded.

“Why didn’t you keep going?”

A wry smile tweaked his lips. “There were other things I needed to do.”

“You had to look after the other two.” Libby’s heart pulled.

“I did, but don’t go thinking there was any great self-sacrifice or anything.” He sent her a laughing look. “The fact is I wasn’t as passionate about it as Tom is. I never had the same kind of drive to succeed in it as he did.”

But he had the same drive to succeed in another area—in getting the financial security for his family. He’d gone from young man to father and breadwinner to his siblings overnight. Libby had no doubt that he was every bit as driven as Tom. He might not have the medals but what he’d achieved was every bit as much of an Olympian effort.

“So you don’t wish it was you?” she asked quietly.

“Sure, part of me has that Olympic fantasy—most people do, right?” he admitted. “No matter how improbable it might be. It’s like the lottery fantasy. We all dream of winning. But I know the sacrifices Tom’s made. I made sacrifices too, but I have the reward already. I see Tom now healthy and happy. I see Anne off at university and studying her passion. Tom’s given up so much for his sport but he may not get the reward. I hope for his sake he does. He deserves it.” He stopped outside a building. “Come on.”

The second they walked into the clubrooms at least five fit-looking rowers bounded over.

“Jack!”

Libby watched as they laughed and caught up and discussed who they thought were Tom’s rivals in the upcoming competition.

“I’m going to take Libby on the water,” Jack said eventually, taking her hand. “It’s her first time.”