Page 56 of The Betrothal

“So, he started with Mills and Boon and then went online for his inspiration?” she asked.

“I can only assume so,” Ben responded. He and Killer were toying with me. “I love pastries, I’ll take this out with me? I am working on some of the window frames.” His question was posed to both Alex and me, Alex looking to me for confirmation.

“Sure,” I replied. It didn’t matter where he ate, so long as he did.

Ben picked up some kitchen roll and a juice.

“If you like pastries, maybe I could make some? If you have the ingredients, or something.” All eyes turned to Izzy.

“Really?” Ben’s excitement was evident. He really loved pastries. “Fruit ones?”

Izzy giggled. “Yeah, I can make those, if you have the right ingredients.”

“If it’s in the pantry, you can have it,” Alex offered.

Killer turned to Alex as quickly as Ben and I did.

“Are you sure, Izzy?” Ben sounded unsure himself.

“I’d like to.” Oh my God, she was blushing! “Plus, I have nothing else to do.”

“Good save, Killer.” I chuckled and Ben scowled at me for interrupting the sweet moment but my smile remained. “I’ll come see you in a bit, I’m sure there’s something you need a spare set of hands for?”

Ben scoffed and I clutched my chest but he didn’t humour me with any further replies, slipping from the house quietly, a small smile playing over his lips.

“Right, Killer. Fancy giving me a play-by-play of your book?”

“Nope.” She finished up her coffee and chased it with juice. Taking her plate to the sink and washing it, drying it and putting it back exactly where it lived.

I took the time to flick through the pages to where she was up to. “Ooh, things might be about to get hot and heavy after the pair are caught in a rainstorm.”

She looked at me slightly shocked. “They’ve not long been getting hot and heavy on the kitchen table. Do they ever stop?”

I shook my head emphatically.

“Must be why you like it so much?” She had me there.

“Jesus. I’m out.” Alex snatched the last pastry from the table and stormed away. “Seb, you’ll have to find something else to eat.” He threw the comment over his shoulder as he disappeared upstairs.

My heart thudded up against my ribcage and I turned on the bench to face her.

“Okay.” My fingers snagged her wrist and I spun her inwards, close enough to allow me to cup her legs. I wanted to touch her but didn’t want to push it.

Slowly, I looked up at her. She was still, the green in her eyes brighter in the well-lit room. Her full lips were lightly parted again and I had the urge to slide my tongue between them.

Releasing her legs briefly I found her hands and placed them on my shoulders. At her lack of argument, my hands returned to her legs, cupping her thighs higher and tugging her between my open knees.

I leaned back against the table so I could see her fully.

“Thought about it?” I asked.

A hint of a smile played across her lips.

“It’s been less than twelve hours.” She was smiling.

I shrugged, the feel of her hands on my shoulders warming me. I hoped the way I looked at her wasn’t playing out my thoughts, they would make my old novels seem phenomenally tame.

She frowned now. “I want to, it’s just–”