Problem was, she would.
Lucy sat curled up in one of the large library chairs with the journal.After their day outside, Ian had gone on to take care of estate business while she returned for a shower and some R & R.She'd recorded her hours by the river, fishing, and the picnic lunch that followed, along with the stories Ian told about his childhood summers on the estate.She could picture him so clearly, lying on the blanket, hands tucked behind his head, eyes closed, face turned to the sun as he spoke.She'd stared at him the entire time, noting the way a slight dimple appeared in his left cheek when he smiled, the way his deep, soft laughter rumbled from his chest, the way his accent would thicken with certain words.
She'd fallen.Hard.
She knew it.But she wasn't quite sure what to do about it, if anything.
As she stared out the window, she wondered if she could make a life here.With him.Were they compatible?Was this just a fleeting thing—fall hard and fast, and then watch it burn out just as quickly?Then what?
Lucy MacLaren had a nice ring to it…
"Oh my God," she muttered at the ridiculous thought.
"Oh my God what?"Ian said from behind her.
Lucy jumped up, dropping the journal."Jeez, Ian!"She hurried to pick it up."A little warning next time."
"I'm going to grab a quick shower.You ready for dinner?"
He gave her a curious look, probably because her face was burning and she was acting like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"Meet me in the kitchen in fifteen," he said.Surprising her, he leaned in, put a hand on her waist, and kissed her cheek.
He was gone before her wits returned.
"I don't want polite kisses," she mumbled to no one, grabbing her pen off the floor and then glaring at the library door.
She only had two nights left.And, damn it, she was going to make them count.
To hell with being scared or risking her heart.It was too late for that.She'd started all this with a spontaneous kiss and she'd see it through.
Lucy glanced down.Her T-shirt and khaki capris weren't exactly seduction material.
No, she needed something special.Something that would knock Ian's socks off and, lucky for her, she had just the thing.
Chapter 10
Ian walked into the kitchen with a smile on his face.It surprised him, how much he looked forward to making dinner with Lucy, how much he wanted her to like his cooking.After all his boasting he had a lot to live up to.
She wasn't there.
He waited.And waited.
Still no Lucy.
Finally, he headed out the door and through the castle to the main stairs.As he rounded the bottom of the steps, preparing to go up, he saw her only a few steps from the bottom.They both froze.His jaw went slack.He tried to form words, to greet her, but his mouth didn't seem to be working.Jesus.
"Hi."
He heard her shy greeting, but all he saw was the hottest pair of blue plaid heels coming down the stairs.His mouth went dry.He couldn't seem to drag his gaze away.Visions of all the naughty things he wanted to do while she was in those heels played through his mind and stole his breath.
Finally, he tore his gaze away, traveling up those incredible legs to the flowing hem of the sexiest little baby blue dress he'd ever seen.It just kept getting better.The dress sported just enough cleavage to make a man notice, not to mention the hem draped over the middle of her thighs like an invitation.He wanted his hand there, on her bare thigh… Her hair was down in a mass of loose, sexy waves.
Ian swallowed.Dinner was going to be hell.
But he'd faced worse, he reminded himself.He could handle Lucy.He hoped.
Ian cleared his throat."Lucy."
