‘I think I’ll keep you on for now, you’re a hard worker and I’m pretty fond of you.’
‘Fond of me?’
‘Crazy about you.’
‘How crazy?’
‘The kind of crazy that has already ordered what I need to make you pistachio chocolates so you’ll marry me.’
She laughed.
‘And now I’ll make you some lunch, it’s late and you’ve not eaten since breakfast. What would you like? Name it and I’ll make it for you and if it’s pickled gherkins or rhubarb jam then I’ll run out and get some for you.’
‘I’m OK, I can make my own lunch.’
‘I thought we agreed you were going to let me look after you.’
She frowned. ‘I don’t remember agreeing to that.’
‘I assure you, you did. It might have been your sleep-addled brain talking, but I still think it would stand up in a court of law.’
She scowled and he leaned forward to kiss the scowl away and she melted against him.
‘Now what did you want for your late lunch?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘What did your mum used to make you when you were poorly?’
She smiled. ‘Soft boiled eggs with soldiers. But I’m not poorly.’
‘But you are exhausted and you’re carrying a baby and you’ve had an emotional twenty-four hours so I think that’s the perfect excuse for a soft boiled egg. Do you prefer toasted soldiers or soft bread?’
She really was going to fall for this man so hard and fast. Telling herself she must keep her heart locked away wasn’t going to change that.
‘Toast with melted butter.’
‘Consider it done.’
‘What time is it anyway?’ Immy asked, stretching.
‘A little after two.’
‘Why didn’t you go back to the shop? You didn’t need to stay with me.’
‘You asked me to stay, so here I am.’ He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal.
Oh god, this man was going to chip away every single defence she’d built around herself.
Before she could stop herself, she reached up and gave him a little kiss on the lips but as she pulled back to say thank you, she saw something change in his eyes. Her heart leapt as he leaned down to give her a brief kiss too and something ignited inside of her. She found herself stroking his face, stroking her hand through the hair at the back of his neck. He growled against her lips, kissing her harder, and she couldn’t help smiling that something so simple could have such an effect on him.
She slid her hands down his back, feeling the muscles in his shoulders, tracing the indent of his spine.He groaned and pulled back to look at her, his breath already heavy on his lips.
‘Sorry, we need to stop, I promised you no sex,’ Xander said.
‘And I don’t remember agreeing to those terms.’
He groaned and kissed her again, then pulled back fractionally so she could feel the words on his lips. ‘Let me love you?’
