Sweet Surrender with the Millionaire

She declined cream or sugar in her coffee; the cocktails had been potent and so had the wine and suddenly she felt she needed all her wits about her. The coffee was strong but not bitter and the chocolate she chose was sweet and nutty. The red glow from the fire, the mellow light in the room, the different tastes on her tongue and not least the dark man sitting quietly beside her created a whole host of emotions she could have done without. She felt tinglingly, excitingly alive and had to force her hand not to shake when she replaced her cup on the saucer and turned to Morgan. ‘Thank you for dinner and everything you’ve done,’ she said steadily. ‘I’ll try and be out of your hair as soon as possible tomorrow.’

‘No need.’ His voice was deep, smoky. She had to clench her stomach muscles against what it did to her. ‘Stay as long as you like. I wasn’t doing anything special this weekend.’

‘Nevertheless I’d like to make a start on clearing up as soon as I can,’ she prevaricated quickly. ‘Get it over with.’

‘I’ll help you,’ he offered softly.

‘No, that’s all right, you’ve done enough already.’

‘Two pairs of hands will make lighter work.’

‘No, really.’ She could hear the tightness in her voice herself. Swallowing hard, she forced a smile. ‘But thank you.’

‘Is it me or are you like this with all men?’

His voice had been calm, unemotional, but the effect of his words brought her pent-up breath escaping in a tiny swoosh. Feigning a hauteur she didn’t feel, she said, ‘I’m sorry?’

He had settled himself in a corner of the sofa half-turned towards her and with one arm stretched along the top of the seat. The casual pose emphasised her own tenseness, which was unfortunate. ‘You’re as jumpy as a kitten around me,’ he murmured. ‘A little Titian-haired kitten with enormous green eyes that doesn’t know whether to bite or purr.’

Willow bristled immediately, the welcome flood of adrenalin sharpening her voice as she said, ‘I can assure you I have no intention of doing either and I am most certainly not “jumpy”, as you put it. I’d just prefer to tackle my house myself, that’s all.’

‘So you’re not frightened of me or nervous in any way?’

‘Of course I’m not. Don’t be so ridiculous,’ she said firmly.

‘That’s good.’

He shifted position slightly and her bravado faltered before she steeled herself to remain perfectly still. He was only reaching for his coffee, for goodness’ sake! What was the matter with her? She had to pull herself together and fast.

Morgan drank deeply from his cup, took a couple of chocolates and then settled back into the contours of the sofa, his eyes on her wary face. ‘So,’ he drawled lazily, ‘Keeper’s Cottage is the place where you hide away from the big, bad world?’

He had hit the nail square on the head but Willow would rather have walked stark naked through the village than admit it. ‘Not at all.’ She found she was glaring at him and quickly moderated her expression. ‘I simply liked the area, the cottage, and it was the right price. It all came together at the right time.’

‘I see.’ His tone reeked of disbelief.

‘I’m not hiding away like a hermit after my divorce, if that’s what you’re suggesting,’ she said hotly. ‘Not for a minute.’

‘That’s good,’ he said again.

‘But even if I was—which I’m not—it would be my own business and no one else’s. No one else’s.’

‘Of course it would,’ he said soothingly.

Willow drew in a deep breath. ‘Has anyone ever told you you’re the most aggravating man in the world?’ she said stonily.

Amused blue eyes considered her discomfiture. ‘Not that I can remember. There have been other accolades, though.’

Willow took refuge in dignified silence—only because she silently acknowledged she wouldn’t win in a war of words with Morgan. After another two chocolates she ran out of something for her hands and mouth to do. His eyes were waiting for her when she nerved herself to glance his way.

‘This might not be the best time to confess, but I’ve arranged for a team of professional cleaners to go into the cottage first thing tomorrow,’ he said coolly. ‘I hope that’s OK?’

‘What?’ She literally couldn’t believe her ears.

Her voice had been so shrill he winced when he said, ‘Come on, they’ll do in a few hours what would take you a few days.’

‘You’ve hired strangers to go into my home? How dare you?’