“Josh, did I say something to
offend you last night? One minute we were chatting away and the next thing I
knew you’d disappeared.” She studied him for a reaction, but he looked at her
calmly, giving nothing away.
“I
owe you an apology for that.” His eyes held hers. “Perhaps someday I’ll explain
it to you, but for now, please know that I’m sorry for walking out on you.”
In
an attempt to lighten the mood she held out her left hand. The diamond caught
the light, sending shafts of brilliance dancing around the cabin. “As you can
see, I haven’t completely given up on you.”
“Good,
because I have a feeling you’re going to love where we’re staying.”
* * *
He
was right. A limousine service met them at the airport and they were taken to a
breathtaking villa overlooking the Mediterranean. An older woman met them at
the door, hastily tucking an errant strand of graying hair behind her ear.
“You
must be Monsieur Morgan,” she said in heavily accented English. “And Miss MacMillan.
Welcome to the villa. I am Martine, your housekeeper. My husband Alain takes
care of the grounds.” She gave them a short tour through gardens lush with
flowers, shrubs and fruit trees. The scent of roses hung in the heated air and
bees clustered around massive lavender plants.
The
villa’s interior was shaded and peaceful, and Olivia kicked off her shoes
immediately, reveling in the cool tile floors.
“Your
bedroom is upstairs. Alain will take your bags up as soon as he gets back from
town.” A car door slammed, and Martine tilted her head. “Ah, here he is now.
I’ll tell him you’ve arrived. Please…” she indicated that they should continue
exploring. “You will call me if I can be of help, no?” She scurried toward the
kitchen.
Olivia
felt immediately at home. “It’s gorgeous,” she said, trying to take it all in.
“How did you find it?”
“A
friend in London arranged it for me.” Josh glanced around appreciatively. “He
has good taste.”
They
rounded a corner and Olivia stifled a gasp. An infinity pool hung out over the
hillside, blending the pool water with the Mediterranean in the distance. The
effect was breathtaking. Terracotta planters of various heights stood grouped
around the deck, exotic plants spilling over their sides in luxuriant green
cascades. Tucked under a broad awning, a well-stocked bar backed onto the
house.
Olivia
slid into a lounge chair under an overgrown trellis, stretching her arms above
her head. “I could get used to this.”
Josh
stood looking down at her, an indulgent smile on his face. “I’m glad you like
it,” he said softly. “It’s good to see you relax.”
She
pushed herself out of the chair and stood in front of him. In her bare feet she
had to look up into his eyes. For a fleeting moment, something moved in their
depths.
“Thank
you, Josh.” She laid a hand on his chest, and was surprised to feel the rapid
beating of his heart. “I know I wasn’t very gracious about accepting your
invitation, but this is lovely.” She wandered over to the bar, sliding onto one
of the tall stools. “Let’s have something cold to drink.”
Josh
walked behind the bar. “It looks fully stocked. What would you like?”
“A
glass of white wine would be nice.”
“Coming
right up.” He removed the foil cap and started to insert the corkscrew. “But
there’s a price.” He removed the cork and twisted it off the corkscrew, placing
it in front of her. “I’d like to know what made you decide to come with me.” He
placed two glasses on the bar, filling them part way.
Olivia
studied the pale liquid. How much should she tell him? Her reasons were too
tangled, too personal to share, and yet she wanted to tell him about her work.
Raising her eyes to his, she searched for a glint of amusement, or
condescension, but found only interest. He could be arrogant, cheeky and
downright infuriating, but there was something solid about him. Something that
she could
offend you last night? One minute we were chatting away and the next thing I
knew you’d disappeared.” She studied him for a reaction, but he looked at her
calmly, giving nothing away.
“I
owe you an apology for that.” His eyes held hers. “Perhaps someday I’ll explain
it to you, but for now, please know that I’m sorry for walking out on you.”
In
an attempt to lighten the mood she held out her left hand. The diamond caught
the light, sending shafts of brilliance dancing around the cabin. “As you can
see, I haven’t completely given up on you.”
“Good,
because I have a feeling you’re going to love where we’re staying.”
* * *
He
was right. A limousine service met them at the airport and they were taken to a
breathtaking villa overlooking the Mediterranean. An older woman met them at
the door, hastily tucking an errant strand of graying hair behind her ear.
“You
must be Monsieur Morgan,” she said in heavily accented English. “And Miss MacMillan.
Welcome to the villa. I am Martine, your housekeeper. My husband Alain takes
care of the grounds.” She gave them a short tour through gardens lush with
flowers, shrubs and fruit trees. The scent of roses hung in the heated air and
bees clustered around massive lavender plants.
The
villa’s interior was shaded and peaceful, and Olivia kicked off her shoes
immediately, reveling in the cool tile floors.
“Your
bedroom is upstairs. Alain will take your bags up as soon as he gets back from
town.” A car door slammed, and Martine tilted her head. “Ah, here he is now.
I’ll tell him you’ve arrived. Please…” she indicated that they should continue
exploring. “You will call me if I can be of help, no?” She scurried toward the
kitchen.
Olivia
felt immediately at home. “It’s gorgeous,” she said, trying to take it all in.
“How did you find it?”
“A
friend in London arranged it for me.” Josh glanced around appreciatively. “He
has good taste.”
They
rounded a corner and Olivia stifled a gasp. An infinity pool hung out over the
hillside, blending the pool water with the Mediterranean in the distance. The
effect was breathtaking. Terracotta planters of various heights stood grouped
around the deck, exotic plants spilling over their sides in luxuriant green
cascades. Tucked under a broad awning, a well-stocked bar backed onto the
house.
Olivia
slid into a lounge chair under an overgrown trellis, stretching her arms above
her head. “I could get used to this.”
Josh
stood looking down at her, an indulgent smile on his face. “I’m glad you like
it,” he said softly. “It’s good to see you relax.”
She
pushed herself out of the chair and stood in front of him. In her bare feet she
had to look up into his eyes. For a fleeting moment, something moved in their
depths.
“Thank
you, Josh.” She laid a hand on his chest, and was surprised to feel the rapid
beating of his heart. “I know I wasn’t very gracious about accepting your
invitation, but this is lovely.” She wandered over to the bar, sliding onto one
of the tall stools. “Let’s have something cold to drink.”
Josh
walked behind the bar. “It looks fully stocked. What would you like?”
“A
glass of white wine would be nice.”
“Coming
right up.” He removed the foil cap and started to insert the corkscrew. “But
there’s a price.” He removed the cork and twisted it off the corkscrew, placing
it in front of her. “I’d like to know what made you decide to come with me.” He
placed two glasses on the bar, filling them part way.
Olivia
studied the pale liquid. How much should she tell him? Her reasons were too
tangled, too personal to share, and yet she wanted to tell him about her work.
Raising her eyes to his, she searched for a glint of amusement, or
condescension, but found only interest. He could be arrogant, cheeky and
downright infuriating, but there was something solid about him. Something that
she could
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