The Burlington Manor Affair

“I’m not willing to discuss terms here,” Rex said.

Teasing and provocative, as always.

“We can talk about it at the manor,” he added.

Carmen sighed. He was obviously determined to force his agenda on her. Why did he want to do this at the house? Carmen felt increasingly light-headed as she was forced to consider what it would be like being alone with him at Burlington Manor. One look at the nonchalant posture of that attractive masculine body had her pulse racing, a nagging ache at her core reminding her she was a woman and she had needs. She crossed her leg higher on the thigh, attempting to quell the arousal there.

His gaze followed the movement, and his mouth gave a gentle twitch, as if he was restraining an idle remark. When their eyes met, electricity traversed the space between them. His handsome mouth sloped into an insinuating smile.

Again heat flared in her face. She tore her gaze away. Annoyed, she rose to her feet, glancing at her watch. “Chris, do you need me for any other part of this?”

“Well, I suppose not....” Chris frowned, then looked at Rex with disapproval.

This was what Rex was like. They all knew that. He wasn’t prepared to follow the norms like everybody else. Well, she wasn’t going to sit there and let him make fun of her when she knew he had no intention of living in the house. He didn’t want it, never had, and he would never care for it the way she would.

Chris nodded at her. “I realize you’ve been delayed. I’ll email you the rest of the details, if you prefer.”

“I appreciate that.”

“If you have any questions, get in touch.”

“Thank you.” She walked out of the office as quickly as she could.

Before she reached the end of the hallway Rex overtook her and blocked her path. “Come now, we haven’t even finished negotiating.”

Clinging on to that hope, she met his stare. “Oh, so you’re suddenly willing to negotiate, now that I’m walking away?”

He rested one hand on the wall by her head, caging her in.

Glancing past his arm, she gauged the distance to the front door.

“Carmen, be reasonable. I didn’t want to air all my private thoughts in front of the family solicitor.”

That seemed rational, which put her earlier misgivings under the spotlight. Why did he unnerve her so? “Okay, spit it out. What’s the deal?”

“The deal is this...I’d really like us to spend some quality time together.”

“Rex, please. Stop messing around.” She gave him her best warning glance. “Email me when you want to talk sense.” She attempted to shift past his arm, but he moved closer still, locking her in against the wall of the corridor with the bulk of his body. Her skin tingled, her senses responding wildly to his proximity. “Let me pass.”

“Not until you agree to hear out my terms.”

She threw him a querying glance.

“You want Burlington Manor,” he continued. “I don’t. We can come to a mutually satisfying arrangement.”

She tried not to react too overtly and met his gaze steadily while she waited for him to explain himself.

Rex gave an exaggerated sigh. “You’ve changed, Carmen, you’re so stern and businesslike.” He moved one hand and ran his finger down the length of her neck.

Arousal surged through her. The way he touched her was so suggestive. It made the pulse in her groin thud wildly.

“Maybe some time chilling out at Burlington with me would do you good.”

Bastard. He was winding her up. This was just a game to him.

“I want to buy you out,” she repeated. “When you’re ready to discuss it get in touch with me.” She ducked under his arm and darted out the door and down the steps outside, heading across the pavement to where her Mini was parked on the street.

Rex strode along at her side.