inappropriate thoughts …?
‘You came to see your …’ she stopped, unable to bring herself to say aunt, finding the term too ludicrous to describe the relationship between the youthful and extremely gorgeous Lucy and this tall, rampantly Latin-looking man ‘… Lucy and she isn’t here, so there’s no need for you to stay.’
‘Actually there’s no need for you to stay,’ he countered as he leaned a hand on the door jamb and glanced towards his son before returning his attention to Miranda. The wind blowing in ruffled his gleaming dark hair, making it stand up in tufts around his face. He smoothed it back with an impatient gesture.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll make it right with Lucy.’
Miranda shook her head, bewildered by the promise. ‘Make it … right?’
It wasn’t until he reached into his pocket that she took his meaning.
‘Has she paid you up front?’ He extracted his hand empty … The lines around his eyes deepened as he tried to recall the last time he had seen his wallet.
A mixture of irritation and contempt on her face, Miranda lifted her chin. ‘I don’t want your money and I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been paid to do a job and I have every intention of fulfilling my contract.’
‘I can look after the place for Lucy.’
Now that he considered the situation, Gianni could see there were advantages to Lucy being away. For starters he would not have to explain the situation to her—she never had made a secret of her disapproval for Sam, pronouncing herself unable to understand what motivated a woman who rejected her child, a woman who continued to risk her life doing the job she loved.
Gianni had tried to defend Sam, pointing out that Liam still had contact with his mother, she just left the hands-on parenting to him, but this cut no ice with Lucy.
‘This is my job. I’m not here on holiday—I’m here to work. I can’t walk away.’
‘What—run a duster around the place and feed a few animals?’
The disparaging but essentially accurate description of her job brought a scowl to Miranda’s brow.
‘I think I can manage that.’
Miranda found herself wishing he could also manage to fall flat on his perfect face.
His dark eyes swept her face. ‘I’m offering you a paid holiday here—who refuses an offer like that?’
Someone who didn’t want to go home in time to see the newly-weds return, seeing the glow in Oliver’s eyes when he looked at her sister.
‘A kind offer, but I wouldn’t dream of imposing. I’m being paid to do a job and I intend to do it.’
‘Let’s let Lucy decide. I think we’ll find that she’d prefer family to be here.’
‘Lucy rang yesterday when she landed—she’s staying somewhere without a landline and there isn’t a signal. She isn’t due to check in again until next week—’ Miranda broke off as a clucking hen ran through the kitchen door. Miranda clapped her hand, having more success in expelling this intruder. ‘I’m not leaving …’ She swallowed and heard the rising note of panic in her querulous addition, ‘I can’t!’
Gianni’s brows lifted. So the redhead was running away … from what or who? Probably a love affair gone bad … It usually was, he thought cynically.
‘I guess that means we’ll have to cohabit.’
Miranda stared at him in horror, shaking her head at his idea of a solution. ‘No … no, that’s not possible. You can’t stay. Why would you want to?’ she challenged.
‘For the pleasure of your charming company?’
Miranda gave a scornful snort and folded her arms across her chest, refusing to react to the charm.
‘The fact is my work schedule doesn’t allow … No, that’s not true—I don’t allow enough time to spend a lot of quality time with Liam.’ Actually, he realised, this wasn’t a lie. ‘Quality time—I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. I try, but not hard enough.’ Again true.
He opened the door fully and stifled a pang of guilt. He couldn’t afford to waver.
‘You came to see your …’ she stopped, unable to bring herself to say aunt, finding the term too ludicrous to describe the relationship between the youthful and extremely gorgeous Lucy and this tall, rampantly Latin-looking man ‘… Lucy and she isn’t here, so there’s no need for you to stay.’
‘Actually there’s no need for you to stay,’ he countered as he leaned a hand on the door jamb and glanced towards his son before returning his attention to Miranda. The wind blowing in ruffled his gleaming dark hair, making it stand up in tufts around his face. He smoothed it back with an impatient gesture.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll make it right with Lucy.’
Miranda shook her head, bewildered by the promise. ‘Make it … right?’
It wasn’t until he reached into his pocket that she took his meaning.
‘Has she paid you up front?’ He extracted his hand empty … The lines around his eyes deepened as he tried to recall the last time he had seen his wallet.
A mixture of irritation and contempt on her face, Miranda lifted her chin. ‘I don’t want your money and I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been paid to do a job and I have every intention of fulfilling my contract.’
‘I can look after the place for Lucy.’
Now that he considered the situation, Gianni could see there were advantages to Lucy being away. For starters he would not have to explain the situation to her—she never had made a secret of her disapproval for Sam, pronouncing herself unable to understand what motivated a woman who rejected her child, a woman who continued to risk her life doing the job she loved.
Gianni had tried to defend Sam, pointing out that Liam still had contact with his mother, she just left the hands-on parenting to him, but this cut no ice with Lucy.
‘This is my job. I’m not here on holiday—I’m here to work. I can’t walk away.’
‘What—run a duster around the place and feed a few animals?’
The disparaging but essentially accurate description of her job brought a scowl to Miranda’s brow.
‘I think I can manage that.’
Miranda found herself wishing he could also manage to fall flat on his perfect face.
His dark eyes swept her face. ‘I’m offering you a paid holiday here—who refuses an offer like that?’
Someone who didn’t want to go home in time to see the newly-weds return, seeing the glow in Oliver’s eyes when he looked at her sister.
‘A kind offer, but I wouldn’t dream of imposing. I’m being paid to do a job and I intend to do it.’
‘Let’s let Lucy decide. I think we’ll find that she’d prefer family to be here.’
‘Lucy rang yesterday when she landed—she’s staying somewhere without a landline and there isn’t a signal. She isn’t due to check in again until next week—’ Miranda broke off as a clucking hen ran through the kitchen door. Miranda clapped her hand, having more success in expelling this intruder. ‘I’m not leaving …’ She swallowed and heard the rising note of panic in her querulous addition, ‘I can’t!’
Gianni’s brows lifted. So the redhead was running away … from what or who? Probably a love affair gone bad … It usually was, he thought cynically.
‘I guess that means we’ll have to cohabit.’
Miranda stared at him in horror, shaking her head at his idea of a solution. ‘No … no, that’s not possible. You can’t stay. Why would you want to?’ she challenged.
‘For the pleasure of your charming company?’
Miranda gave a scornful snort and folded her arms across her chest, refusing to react to the charm.
‘The fact is my work schedule doesn’t allow … No, that’s not true—I don’t allow enough time to spend a lot of quality time with Liam.’ Actually, he realised, this wasn’t a lie. ‘Quality time—I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. I try, but not hard enough.’ Again true.
He opened the door fully and stifled a pang of guilt. He couldn’t afford to waver.
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