Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection. Rebecca Winters

Чтение книги онлайн.

       Chapter Four

      I rang the bell and heard the hurried thud of feet running down the stairs. A moment later I heard another thud, shortly followed by a few choice words before the door was pulled open. Michael O’Farrell stood there in a white T-shirt, faded jeans and bare feet, the right one of which he was holding up and rubbing.

      ‘Are you all right?’ I asked, as he mutely indicated me to step inside. ‘I thought I heard…something.’

      ‘Fine,’ he replied. He waited whilst I took off my coat and heels and then began heading towards the kitchen. I followed. ‘Would you like a drink? I’m making one anyway.’

      My plan was to say no so that I could just get on with the task in hand but as he pressed the button on the coffee maker, buried amongst the junk on one of the work surfaces, the most delectable smell of coffee drifted out, melting my resolve in one tempting moment.

      ‘That would be very nice, thank you.’

      He nodded and pulled another mug from a cupboard.

      ‘I saw that,’ he said, without turning.

      ‘Saw what?’

      ‘You raised your eyebrows in surprise that I actually got something out of a cupboard instead of just off the worktop.’

      I really needed to work on my poker face.

      ‘You had your back to me. You have no idea what I did or didn’t do.’

      ‘I’ve eight nieces and nephews and spent a year teaching English in India. I’ve learned to have eyes in the back of my head.’

      I rolled my eyes.

      ‘I saw that too.’

      ‘Oh, you did not.’

      ‘Boy. You’re bad at this game.’

      I sucked in my cheeks and kept my mouth closed, as my eyes darted to the snow shovel leaning against the wall outside, next to the back door.

      ‘I’d get to it before you.’

      ‘Oh bloody hell!’ I burst out.

      Michael’s face creased into a brief grin that faded as quickly as it had shown. ‘I can see why Janey likes you.’

      I didn’t know what to say to that so I said nothing. But as the silence grew longer, my client seemed disinclined to fill it, happy, it seemed, just to lounge against the counter and drink his coffee. His gaze fell on me and the intensity of his eyes gave off the feeling that he could see much deeper than I was comfortable with. Which, of course, was ridiculous. I knew that. But still. I could also see why he was apparently never short of women to take up to his soulless bedroom. It wasn’t just the good looks. It was easy to see how those eyes and that gaze could be used to make you feel like you were the only person around, even in a room full of people. Or a bar full of alcohol.

      ‘What are you thinking?’

      ‘What?’ I asked, my voice coming out a little more squeaky than usual and colour flushing up my neck.

      ‘You had a very…interesting…expression on your face.’

      I wasn’t sure what that meant but I did know I had absolutely no intention of telling my client that I’d been thinking about how easy it must be for him to pick up women in bars. I knew he’d just take it as a compliment. I’d hit myself in the back of the head with that snow shovel before I admitted to that.

      ‘I was just thinking about the best place to start.’

      Michael drained his coffee mug, watching me over the rim. ‘Right,’ he said, giving me the distinct impression that he didn’t believe a word I’d just said.

      ‘And what did you decide?’

      Thankfully I had actually been planning the best way to go about this particular СКАЧАТЬ