“I’ve heard so much about you,” he said conversationally.
“Yes, me too, I mean. I’ve heard a lot aboutyou.”
He laughed, throwing his handsome dark head back. “Yes, I bet you’ve had quite an earful from my father.”
He was so disarming that she stood like a fool, grinning at him.Pull yourself together, Millie!This man is youremployer.
She tried to hide her nerves by brushing the grass from the back of her trousers. What had they told him about her? Then another thought hit her. Did he recognize her?He hadn’t said anything, and she hoped she looked nothing like the shaking mess who had shouted at him in the street.
“Did they send you to find me?” she finally said, looking ather watch.
“Don’t worry. I haven’t come to catch you skiving onthe job.”
It didn’t help that she as having trouble telling reality from her dream. His eyes, silver-flecked grey under black lashes, settled on her face for a moment.No, please don’t remember me.
Then he shook his head and smiled. “Actually, I haven’t been to the house yet. I always like to walk up here first.”
He shaded his eyes with long fingers as his gaze travelled over the island exactly as she had done earlier, his face curiously soft, transformed by an emotion she couldn’t guess.
Finally. he turned his attention back to her. “Shall we walk down?”
Again, he held his hand out to her, but she was determined not to touch him. Something about his presence was very intense, and she felt out of her depth. Ignoring the offered hand, she jumped down quickly on another smaller rock, nearly lost her footing and lurched forward.
She would have fallen flat on her face over the rocks and gravel had it not been for his quick reflexes. He stepped forward neatly and caught her. His hands held her waist and lifted her off like she weighed nothing.
So close to her dream of a moment ago, yet it was completely different. She placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself; he was far more solid than the dream man, and warm under her hands. There was a faint hint of stubble on his jawline.
He lowered her slowly. Her chest brushed his, which pulled her blouse up, slightly exposing her stomach. Suddenly there was nothing between his fingers and her skin, and his hands circling her waist tightened for a second. She had the strangest urge to slide her hands behind his neck and touchhis hair.
He brought her down until her feet were on the grass but didn’t let go, and they stood in an impromptu embrace for a moment longer while he made sure she was steady on her feet. Then he stepped back.
The entire thing couldn’t have been longer than three seconds. Alifetimein which she lived in a different world.
It ended too quickly. When he let go of her, she felt cold andabandoned.
George watched Millie step past him and start walking downhill without waiting for him.
She looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’tplace her.
No sooner had she walked ten yards downhill than she stopped and doubled back up towards him.
“What’s it called?” she said climbing to the rock from which he had just lifted her—and savedher neck!
She looked out over the east shore.
“That cove at the end of the island with the jetty and the cottage, can you see?”she asked.
George looked where she was pointing, although he already knew exactly where she meant. What he didn’t know, yet, was how much he was prepared totell her.
“Blue Sage Bay,” he answered finally, opting for the minimum.
But Millie nodded as if he’d confirmed something she already suspected. She climbed down, smiling to herself.
“Does this answer your question?” he asked,intrigued.
“Yes, it answersthisquestion, but it raises fifteen others,” she said without looking at his face, then continued downthe path.
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