–’
‘Then why not use the front door like anyone else?’
He had a point but I could hardly admit to wanting to spy on the man. It seemed that he took my silence to signal defeat.
‘Look,’ he said in a much warmer voice. ‘I can probably help you.’ He patted the empty space on the sofa. ‘But you really need to relax first.’
‘You mean you can get me into the house?’ My eagerness brought a small frown onto his forehead.
‘If that’s what you want, then yes. I doubt Mr Kinrade would mind.’
Things were looking up already and, to prevent him reneging, I tentatively took the place beside him. ‘You have a key?’
He nodded. ‘I am in sole charge of the house. The maid comes a couple of times a week and when the boss is away, as he often is, then the place is all mine. Now, tell me your name.’ To my shock, he placed a hand on my rain-soaked thigh and squeezed gently. With those dark eyes to lead me astray, he could have told me anything and I would have believed him.
‘Ailey Callister,’ I replied, completely forgetting my covert mission. While I was mentally chastising myself for advertising my name, I failed to notice how pale the gardener became.
* * *
The mahogany four-poster was immaculately made up with an antique bedspread in duck-egg blue and an abundance of feather pillows in lace shams. The bed was the centrepiece of the impressive period room, which was filled with Georgian furniture and paintings.
‘Mr Kinrade’s room?’
The gardener, who had reluctantly revealed himself as Dominic before we left the hut, stood in the bedroom doorway, having tailed me as I nervously wandered throughout the deserted house. I was feeling quite strange inside.
‘Technically, yes.’ He ventured into the room, perhaps also feeling uneasy that we were prying on its absent owner. ‘Although I don’t think he sleeps in here much.’
‘Oh?’
But Dominic fell silent and when he walked up behind me, so close that I could feel his breath on my neck, I dropped onto the plush bed to avoid another painful grip on my arm. Impulsively, I kicked off my boots and nestled in the mountain of pillows. However temporarily, I was finally home.
It didn’t occur to me immediately that I had effectively advertised myself for sale. I had no idea how it looked to Dominic, who had already made his own discreet advance by allowing me to feel the brush of his desire on my neck. I simply lay, staring up at the rich curtains of the bed canopy, fantasising about how it would feel when I reclaimed my beautiful family home.
To my shock, I felt the bed dip as Dominic, whom I had met only forty minutes ago, positioned himself beside me. I risked a glance and saw that he was lying on his side, his head propped on his bent arm and his face unnervingly close. I looked away immediately.
‘So, what is it that you want with Mr Kinrade that necessitates snooping around his house and lying on his bed?’
Should I answer truthfully? I bit my lip and sat upright, kicking myself for having climbed onto the bed. I pushed my hair back and swallowed, easing myself towards the edge of the satin bedspread. I had already let my real name slip so would being honest be such a disaster? Perhaps Dominic would be willing to help me. I took the half-lidded gaze he poured over me to mean that he would have done anything I suggested. I couldn’t move. Instead, I offered a deep stare in return and let my mouth drop open in case a suitable reply should come out.
‘Are you a stalker? Do you have a crush on Mr Kinrade?’ Dominic asked, shifting himself closer so that my next move away would be onto the floor.
‘Good heavens, no! That thief is the last person I’d want to –’
And it was done. Dominic’s mouth was on mine. I was being kissed by a virtual stranger in Ethan Kinrade’s bedroom. I pushed away and stood up, grabbing onto the bedpost for support because my legs wouldn’t work.
He followed the advance with
‘Then why not use the front door like anyone else?’
He had a point but I could hardly admit to wanting to spy on the man. It seemed that he took my silence to signal defeat.
‘Look,’ he said in a much warmer voice. ‘I can probably help you.’ He patted the empty space on the sofa. ‘But you really need to relax first.’
‘You mean you can get me into the house?’ My eagerness brought a small frown onto his forehead.
‘If that’s what you want, then yes. I doubt Mr Kinrade would mind.’
Things were looking up already and, to prevent him reneging, I tentatively took the place beside him. ‘You have a key?’
He nodded. ‘I am in sole charge of the house. The maid comes a couple of times a week and when the boss is away, as he often is, then the place is all mine. Now, tell me your name.’ To my shock, he placed a hand on my rain-soaked thigh and squeezed gently. With those dark eyes to lead me astray, he could have told me anything and I would have believed him.
‘Ailey Callister,’ I replied, completely forgetting my covert mission. While I was mentally chastising myself for advertising my name, I failed to notice how pale the gardener became.
* * *
The mahogany four-poster was immaculately made up with an antique bedspread in duck-egg blue and an abundance of feather pillows in lace shams. The bed was the centrepiece of the impressive period room, which was filled with Georgian furniture and paintings.
‘Mr Kinrade’s room?’
The gardener, who had reluctantly revealed himself as Dominic before we left the hut, stood in the bedroom doorway, having tailed me as I nervously wandered throughout the deserted house. I was feeling quite strange inside.
‘Technically, yes.’ He ventured into the room, perhaps also feeling uneasy that we were prying on its absent owner. ‘Although I don’t think he sleeps in here much.’
‘Oh?’
But Dominic fell silent and when he walked up behind me, so close that I could feel his breath on my neck, I dropped onto the plush bed to avoid another painful grip on my arm. Impulsively, I kicked off my boots and nestled in the mountain of pillows. However temporarily, I was finally home.
It didn’t occur to me immediately that I had effectively advertised myself for sale. I had no idea how it looked to Dominic, who had already made his own discreet advance by allowing me to feel the brush of his desire on my neck. I simply lay, staring up at the rich curtains of the bed canopy, fantasising about how it would feel when I reclaimed my beautiful family home.
To my shock, I felt the bed dip as Dominic, whom I had met only forty minutes ago, positioned himself beside me. I risked a glance and saw that he was lying on his side, his head propped on his bent arm and his face unnervingly close. I looked away immediately.
‘So, what is it that you want with Mr Kinrade that necessitates snooping around his house and lying on his bed?’
Should I answer truthfully? I bit my lip and sat upright, kicking myself for having climbed onto the bed. I pushed my hair back and swallowed, easing myself towards the edge of the satin bedspread. I had already let my real name slip so would being honest be such a disaster? Perhaps Dominic would be willing to help me. I took the half-lidded gaze he poured over me to mean that he would have done anything I suggested. I couldn’t move. Instead, I offered a deep stare in return and let my mouth drop open in case a suitable reply should come out.
‘Are you a stalker? Do you have a crush on Mr Kinrade?’ Dominic asked, shifting himself closer so that my next move away would be onto the floor.
‘Good heavens, no! That thief is the last person I’d want to –’
And it was done. Dominic’s mouth was on mine. I was being kissed by a virtual stranger in Ethan Kinrade’s bedroom. I pushed away and stood up, grabbing onto the bedpost for support because my legs wouldn’t work.
He followed the advance with
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