It will make sense in a moment, trust me!
“It’s modern architecture,” I clarify. “A quick and dirty thin partition pretending to be a wall. Not even soundproof.”
“I see…”
“It’s pure luck that my viewing the rushes didn’t bother you until now,” I say. “But I have a solution!”
“Do tell.”
“Mrs. Everly and Oli will ready the coziest part of the attic for you. You’ll have more wiggle room than in your current quarters, and you’ll be at the other end of the house.”
“You’ve been very kind to us, and your staff are having a lot of extra work to do as it is—”
“They get extra pay for extra work,” I point out.
“Even more so! I won’t be the troublemaker entailing additional cost for you.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
She fidgets with the belt of her robe. “Already, I was undeservedly mean to you in the library yesterday… I’ve been feeling guilty about it all day.”
“You shouldn’t have. What you said wasn’t mean, or unwarranted. It was honest.”
“That’s the thing…” She swallows. “It wasn’t.”
I stare at her.
She supplies no further explanation.
Am I reading her right this time around?
Is she messaging that she’d like me to make a move? Does her leaning into my space mean she wants me to take her in my arms? Are her parted lips signaling she wants me to kiss her?
Is our uptight Margot a sex kitten who just quit playing an alpha bitch?
I peer at her beautiful, racy face. My gaze drops to her pert breasts, her slim, high waist, the gentle swell of her tummy, sexy as hell, begging for my hand…
I mustn’t!It could endanger the mission. Besides, what if I’m imagining her lust for me? What if my own lust, coupled with my being used to female attention, makes me misread her cues?
She hasn’t asked if she can come in, or said anything at all, be it explicit or suggestive. She’s leaning closer, but she has yet to take an actual step in my direction, or touch me, or make any kind of gesture that would leave no doubt about her intent.
If it’s there—and I do believe it is—then she’s fighting it. The woman before me is uncommonly rational and constant. Her principles that made her reject me last night are clashing with what her body wants.How unusual!I have never seen this much restraint in a woman this pretty. Is Margot the ultimate anti-Donna, the anomaly, a beauty endowed with a brainandself-discipline?
It’s also possible that her standing on my doorstep now has nothing to do with desire, but everything with her exasperation over the noise I’ve been making.
I draw back.
As if waking up from a trance, she staggers. “Please, forget about the attic! Forget I ever said anything.”
“It’s no trouble at all to set you up there.”
“I refuse to add to everything Mrs. Everly and Oli already have on their plates.” She forces a smile. “There’s an easier solution. I’ll find some earplugs for tomorrow. Good night, Jonas!”
“I’ll use headphones,” I grunt, shutting the door on her. “Good night, Margot.”
CHAPTER16
MARGOT
