“Nothing.” His shrug didn’t look entirely convincing. “I just liked the way you did that. You’re good at taking care of people.”
Her chin rose, not sure if that’s what she wanted him to think of her. “Maybe it was just because it wasyourpillow. Maybe Iwas thinking of you lying here tonight, your head on that pillow, thinking of me.”
Had there been heat in his eyes before? In a blink, his expression turned downright molten. “I can guarantee you I’ll be thinking of you tonight, Ember,” he growled. “Lying in bed right here, thinking of you.”
Oh.
Oh.
Had he touched himself and wondered what her hands would feel like on his body, the way she had?
Ember swallowed hard, suddenly not at all interested in the pillows, except in the very general way that they were on the bed, andhewould be on the bed, and she was now thinking of him lying there…
Thinking of me.
Well that was going to be a distraction tonight, wasn’t it?
He’d winked at her, then turned away and began gathering up the dirty sheets from where he’d tossed them. Definitely a man who’d done that before, and the ease with which he’d dismissed the topic told her he’d been teasing her.
As Ember fought to gain control of her body’s reaction to him, she turned to the small table which stood in the middle of the room, a pair of chairs on either side. Papers covered it, and she stepped over to arrange them into neater piles, more to give her hands something to do than anything else.
But as she moved the papers around, a design caught her eye, and she held it up to study it.
“You like it?” Max’s deep drawl rumbled behind her. “Those are the designs for my house. It’ll be finished any day now.”
“It is…lovely.”
“It’s simple,” he corrected.
He was right. The house was only two bedrooms, with a parlor in the front and a dining room on the opposite side of the house. The kitchen wasn’t fancy, but perfectly serviceable, and there was even a bathing chamber with pipes for running water directly to the tub.
Her first thought was,It would be so simple to keep a place like this clean! She immediately knew, if given the choice, she’d want to live in a home just like this. Not because it looked easier to keep clean than the inn, but because it appeared to be cozy and comfortable.
“It is perfect,” she breathed, meaning it.
He cleared his throat and reached for the design, his fingers brushing against hers as he did so. Instead of putting the plans away, he stared down at them for a long moment.
“I’ve always wanted a little house like this for myself. Until I came to the Highlands, I’d lived my whole life in my father’s—in someone else’s house. I’m ready for a chance to make a name for myself.”
Ember nodded. “I know exactly what you mean.”
His expression cleared into another easy-going smile as he slid the design into a folder on the table. “You live with your overbearing father, do you?”
She chuckled. “Sort of. Iamhoping to be able to make my own way in the world soon.”
When his fingers brushed against hers, she startled, but didn’t hesitate. She clasped her hand around his, shivering at the electrical sensation, and held his gaze.
“It’s exciting, isn’t it?” he whispered. “Finding where exactly you belong?”
Her fingers tightened around his. “Yes, it is, Max.” Right then, if someone had asked, she’d have said she belonged withhim.
He swallowed. “I’m beginning to suspect figuring out a future might be more fun, more satisfying, with someone else.”
Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Unconsciously, Ember leaned a little closer to him. “You might be right.”
Just as he opened his mouth to reply, a call came from down the corridor. “Ember! Where are you, girl? Have you finished changing those sheets?”
With a sigh, Ember sank back on her heels once more, and he winced.
“Baroness Oliphant, huh? I’ve heard her calling for you at all hours—seems as though she treats you worse than the other servants.”
“Oh, yes,” Ember began, with an exasperated roll of her eyes, before stepping away from him. “I am her own personal drudge.”
“Ember!” came the screech from down the corridor, and Ember sighed once more, even as Max winced.
“I am sorry,” she whispered, meeting his eyes, although she wasn’t exactly sure why she was apologizing. “That really is just who I am, now.”
His chin jerked in acknowledgement, but he didn’t say anything as she hurried out the door, heading for the laundry closet, and feeling as if she’d somehow ruined something very special.
