Minding Amy

Oh, yes, she was very beautiful indeed, with those defiant eyes and the shadow of annoyance still high on her cheeks. The desire he felt had turned into something more like extreme longing.

Sebastian couldn't resist any longer. He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek. Her breath was warm on his face. He traced a path with his mouth down toward her jaw. Her head sank back in response. He kissed the skin beneath her ear. She smelled of jasmine, and desire, unmistakable. He could hear the withheld whimper in her throat. He could sense the anxiety coursing over her skin. She was hot and responsive—she was everything that made his blood turn to fire.

"You're not going to deny there's a bit of mutual attraction going on here, are you?" he murmured against her skin.

"I wouldn't argue with that, but this is about work and I'd appreciate it if you made an attempt to act professionally."

He slid his hands in and around her waist. She gave a soft whimper at his touch, belying her attempt at a cool reply.

"Sure, I could do that." He felt her breathing grow shallow as he gently grasped her waist in his hands. "But you don’t have to work all the time, and you were looking to have some fun on your blind date." He kissed her throat. "Why not have your fun with me instead?"

She didn't respond, didn’t deny him.

"No strings," he added, reminding her of her remark in the pub.

He lifted his head to look at her. Her eyes were half-closed, her pupils dilated and dark with desire. She shook her head at him—her hands gripping the steering wheel tighter still—determined it seemed to resist him, despite her obvious arousal.

"I can't," she repeated, and with that she turned the key in the ignition, signaled, pulled out and put her foot to the floor.

Her nipples were poking through the fabric of her top, her face flushed and her hair mussed. Sebastian glanced away out of the passenger window and smiled to himself. It was only a matter of time until she was on her back and begging for him. He'd put money on it.

Chapter Four

"About bleedin' time," the caretaker declared as she swung open the heavy front door.

Amy gave an inward sigh. She could really do with a break right about now. She was feeling horribly tense and bedraggled after that testing journey with Sebastian. Now she had an angry caretaker to deal with. The disgruntled woman stood at the top of the steps, marring Amy's first view into the elegant town house where they would be spending the weekend. Glancing past her, she caught sight of an impressive Victorian hallway.

"I've got my own life to lead, you know," the woman declared, loudly. She pulled on an ancient blue raincoat as she spoke.

"I'm sorry," Amy responded, as she wondered how many more obstacles she would have to surmount before she could even begin this job. "Our car overheated and we had to stop." Even as she said it she realized she should have phoned, but she'd been far too distracted by Mr. Full-on Machismo.

The caretaker waved her hand dismissively.

"You're 'ere now. The downstairs bedroom is made up and there's another two upstairs." She glanced at Amy, then at Sebastian who was getting their bags from the parked car. "Just the two of you is it?"

"Yes."

"Downstairs bedroom is nicest," she whispered, as if she was letting Amy in on a secret, then she resumed her loud, cantankerous instructions, including Sebastian in her audience as he approached. "I've set everything up for you and there are some of them fancy continental breakfasts in the fridge. I'll be over in the morning to check on you. Any questions you've got had better wait till then." With that she stomped down the steps without a backward glance.

"British hospitality at its best, ay?" Sebastian commented, as he joined Amy at the top of the steps, her laptop briefcase and their overnight bags easily held in one hand.

The caretaker could have been Godzilla for all Amy cared, and her bed a tent on the cliffs. She had

bigger worries. Once again they were alone. Unbidden arousal flooded her. She nodded, trying to avoid eye contact. She couldn't. He magnetized her. What hope did she have of focusing on the job with him around? She'd have to phone home and request he be removed. And then Dad will take the job away too. She was well and truly stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"Come on," Sebastian urged. "Let's go inside, check the place out."

Was he making an effort? Perhaps. She wandered inside, scanning the décor. The hallway was decorated in dark colors, with a large staircase that swept up with a line of elaborate banisters, deep crimson carpet and portraits lining the walls. To the right hand side of the stairs a corridor ran away into darkness. On the left side of the staircase two doors stood ajar, each allowing a beam of light to escape into the gloomy hallway. Amy followed the light.

"Wow," she said, when she emerged into a sitting room. The room was overtly Gothic, with a huge stone fireplace, Victorian furnishings, and framed pictures on the walls. A single candle burning by the fireplace gave an illusion of warmth. She turned round to face Sebastian. He was standing in the doorway, his hand up against the doorframe, watching her. The white open-neck shirt he wore with jeans were casual compared to his smart outfit of the morning meeting, but he still looked dapper, and incredibly sexy, as if he had stepped out of a photo shoot.

"It's amazing," she murmured.

He nodded, but he was looking at her. "I think I saw a shop on the way in. How about I go and pick up a bottle of wine while you get settled in?"

He was leaving her alone, but he was buying wine. Every move he made had her wondering what was going on in his mind. Would he respect her request to be more professional? A glass of wine did sound good though. She nodded. "I'll check the place out while you're gone."

He didn't move for a moment, his gaze making a slow path over her body. He smiled at her, his eyebrows lifting. "I won't be gone long."