Sinful Seduction by Kate Benedict Page B

horrified,’ he grinned. ‘It’s not the end of the world. If having a pretty girl see me in the buff is all I have to worry about, I think I’ll survive.’
    She bit her lip and looked up at him. ‘And you won’t tell Mrs Hardcastle about it?’ she pleaded. ‘She’d give me an awful row.’
    â€˜Of course not,’ he assured her, then winked and chucked her under the chin. ‘It’ll be our little secret. I think I’ll take that, before you drop it,’ he added, taking the water can from her nerveless fingers. ‘Don’t want you getting into any more trouble.’
    Maggie pulled herself together. ‘Thank you, sir,’ she said, stepping back from him. ‘You’re very kind.’ She edged past him. ‘I’ll just take your tray and be out of your way.’ As she lifted it she discovered her hands were shaking; the breakfast china rattled together, giving her away.
    â€˜Good heavens, you’re a nervous little filly, aren’t you?’ he grinned. ‘Here, that looks heavy. Give it to me and I’ll carry it downstairs for you.’
    Maggie stared at him in horror, her nerves forgotten as she imagined what Mrs H would have to say about Master Jeremy doing her work. ‘Oh no, sir!’ she protested, hanging onto it as if he was going to wrench it from her at any minute. ‘You can’t do that. It’d be more than my job’s worth.’ She shook her head. ‘I can manage, sir. I’m used to it.’
    He stared at the slim, defiant figure and suppressed a smile. She looked as if she was prepared to defend the damned tray with her life if need be. ‘Determined as well as pretty,’ he said softly, and she flushed again at the admiration in his eyes. ‘Well, at least let me hold the door open for you; you can hardly object to that.’
    â€˜Thank you, sir, that’s very kind of you,’ she said formally - then relief made her bold and the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. ‘Better hang on to that sheet though,’ she said, dimpling up at him. ‘I’ve had enough frights this morning to last me a lifetime.’ She stopped in shock at her own forwardness. God, he could have her sacked on the spot for insolence! She stared at him apprehensively.
    â€˜You’re quite right,’ he agreed solemnly. ‘I shall.’ Clutching it to his waist, he bowed and opened the door, and as she maneuvered past him he was so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, and the clean male scent of him made her head spin. Sudden heat blossomed in her belly and she could feel the secret place between her thighs moisten in response.
    He put a hand on her shoulder to steady her and she shivered involuntarily at his touch. Their eyes met and she recognised the answering desire in his - a desire reflected in the burgeoning swell of his manhood beneath the concealing sheet. Her lips parted and she swayed towards him, and if it hadn’t been for the tray between them she would have found herself in his arms.
    Coming to her senses, Maggie turned and walked away as fast as her burden would allow, the breakfast crockery clattering in her shaking hands. Aware of his eyes still on her, she kept her head high until she was safely round the corner and out of sight. Only then did she allow herself to collapse panting against the wall. She must have been imagining things. He was the master’s son. He wouldn’t be interested in the likes of her - or if he was it would only be for one thing.
    Once her heart had stopped pounding she picked up the other tray and made her way slowly back downstairs.
    â€˜I knew it!’ said Mrs McAllister triumphantly, taking one look at her face. ‘I told you you should have eaten something. You’re shaking like a bloomin’ leaf.’ She took the trays from Maggie’s unsteady hands, dumped them