"That's sweet of you." Althea felt a warm glow at the realization that even though the damn man was avoiding her, he had obviously been thinking that she was coming today and needed help.
"They're all going to the kitchen."
"I'll get that, miss," Clive told her with a solemn smile as he took the bag from her.
From his vantage point upstairs in his office, Vincent watched the scene unfold. After another sleepless night, he was not in the best frame of mind, and seeing her smiling and chatting with his security guards was getting him edgy. From where he was standing at the window, he could clearly see her smile, the glow of her flawless skin, and the way the faded denims moldedher shapely derriere. Her sweater, an eye-popping yellow this time, clung to every seductive curve of her upper body. She was wearing earrings that swung at her lobes whenever she moved her head and was carrying on an animated conversation with his employees.
As if sensing she was being observed, she lifted her head and barely gave him time to step back. His breath caught in his throat.
Feeling like a fool, he swung away from the window and went back to his desk.
*****
He was elbow-deep in paperwork when the knock sounded before the doors were pushed open. His very chic and usually sternly professional assistant came sailing in with a tray.
"That utterly delightful and talented Ms. Drummond sent this up for you." She placed the tray on the desk in front of him. "She was hoping you would come down and see what she's doing."
She bustled away to pour him a cup of coffee and brought it back. "I must say that I could not resist when she offered me a sample of her orange custard. It's simply too delicious for mere words."
"I don't have time-"
"You haven't eaten anything for lunch."
The woman stood there as if to say that she had no intention of leaving until he at least took a pastry.
"All right." Tamping down the annoyance and wondering what had gotten into his usually stalwart assistant, he picked up a sugary cookie and popped it into his mouth. His frown immediately disappeared as the cookie melted like butter on his tongue.
No wonder he was so tied up in knots over her, he thought wryly. She had magic fingers.
"It's exceptional."
Mrs. Hargrove looked as pleased as punch, as if she was the one who had done the baking.
"Precisely what I told the lovely young woman. And she has Glen wrapped around her little finger. He would normally not allow anyone to invade his kitchen but is like a kitten around Ms. Drummond."
"She has a way about her." Fighting the need to march down to the kitchen and see for himself what was going on, he took another cookie instead. It was no business of his if Thea set out to charm his entire male staff. He refused to let it bother him.
"That she does. Well, I'll leave you to it then. This party is going to be a very pleasant one, as far as the desserts are concerned anyway," she added before sailing out and closing the doors behind her.
Smiling slightly, he did as he was told and finished the rest, and it was no hardship to accomplish that.
*****
He had the distinct pleasure of watching her unobserved for a few minutes. He had finally given in to the temptation and the irresistible urge to walk down to the kitchen to see her. The apron was an electric blue this time, with an enormous painting of the sun in the middle. And as usual, she had a smudge on her left cheek. His smile widened as he noticed her muttering under her breath as she painstakingly arranged the pastries on the towering silver tray.
He was also grateful to see that she was alone in the enormous kitchen.
As if sensing his presence, she looked up from her task and just stared at him.
He braced for her angry words that did not come. She simply smiled at him.
"Hi."
He had deliberately avoided her for weeks, and she was not holding a grudge. It did something to his heart.
"Hi." He came further in. "All alone?"
"Glen went to take a smoke break. I sent some things with your very lovely and completely intimidating assistant to you."
