Then he took her hand in his and pulled her into the room, and Ember sighed with pleasure at the jolt of awareness which passed between them. His accent was just as delightful as it had been the other times they’d spoken. WereallAmerican men’s voices so—so—sodrawly? Or just his and Mr. DeVille’s? She remembered the manager’s cultured tones as they’d danced,although underneath them had been a twang she’d liked listening to.
“I haven’t seen you since yesterday!”
She sighed dreamily again—he was still holding her hand—and nodded. “Baroness Oliphant does not like me to work directly for the guests. Often I am cleaning upstairs in her own chambers.” And Tiffany and Bonnie’s, although Bonnie was neat as a pin most of the time. “And sometimes I am working out in the gardens. One of our regular maids is late today, so I was sent to bring these for you.”
When she nodded to the linens he still held in his free hand, he smiled again. “Well then, you can help me so the trip isn’t wasted. That way, if she stops by, she can see you are working. I won’t be the cause of getting you in trouble!”
As he spoke, he tossed the clean linens atop a chair and began stripping the bed. Amused, she stepped up to the other side and began to help him. She’d never seen a man jump into domestic chores so easily, and it solidified her impression of him: he was a simple man with simple wants.
Like her.
Well, not themanpart.
But she was a simple woman with simple wants, and one of those wants was for a simple man very much like Max.
Och, ye are thinking of a future with him now?
Well, why not? Were there rules against her finding a good man and making a future with him? That didn’t interfere with her plans to sell her designs to Mr. DeVille and support herself with her art, did it?
They worked together well, she had to admit. And she couldn’t help but admire his efficiency when it came to making a bed, as if he’d done it many times before.
Definitely not’ the lordly type then.
Distracted, she fumbled with one of the pillows as she rounded the end of the bed, and the thing flew from her hands to land beside Max’s feet. Mortified, she lunged for it, but he got there first, scooping it up and brushing it off.
Slowly, she straightened, now unnervingly close to him. If either of them were to take half a step, they’d be within a hairsbreadth of the other. As it was, she was close enough to see his pupils grow larger and his nostrils flare when his gaze dropped to her lips.
Oh.Oh my.
Who knew a man’s gaze on her lips—and the sight of a man’s aroused interest—could make her thighs clench this way?
Ember tried to relax her muscles, but the yearning had her breaths coming closer together, and she realized she was leaning toward him.
Closer…closer.
His lips parted, and she could see the tip of his tongue pressed against his upper teeth. Who knew a tongue could be quite so exciting? At least, judging from the way her heart was pounding,somepart of her considered it exciting.
The flood of warmth to the junction of her thighs gave her a good idea exactlywhichpart.
“Ember…?”
His whisper startled her, and she blinked as she jerked upright. They were standing beside a bed—hisbed—in a bedroom with an open door. Even ignoring propriety—which, apparently, they were both quite comfortable doing—this was certainly no place for a kiss.
If kissing had been on his mind that is.
It had definitely been on hers.
Take the pillow, you idiot.
Ember did as commanded, snatching the pillow from his hands and stepping back. Was that a flash of disappointment in his eyes before he turned away? And was she mistaken, or had he just discretely adjusted his trousers, before clearing his throat and bending to tuck the sheets under the mattress?
Right.Work.
But she was smiling as she finished fitting the linen pillowcase in place. She’d forgotten her work there for a moment, but it was obvious he’d been just as affected by their almost-kiss as she had been.
In no time, with both of them working together, they were finished, and she fluffed his pillow an extra time or two before placing it carefully on the bed. She looked up to see him watching her, a heat in his eyes she hadn’t expected.
“What?” she blurted.
