Once a Playboy…. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ feel too tight. ‘I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.’

      ‘I’m just an ordinary man, Serena.’

      That absolutely wasn’t true. There was nothing in the least bit ordinary about George Somers.

      ‘I find you attractive.’ His eyes glittered. ‘And, from the way you kissed me back just now, I’d say it’s completely mutual.’

      It was. She did find him attractive. Which was a huge problem. Help. It had been so long since she’d been out with anyone that she couldn’t even remember how to play the dating game. She’d only make a mess of this.

      ‘I have a child,’ she blurted out. ‘I’m a single mum.’ And then she felt ashamed of herself for using Ethan as an excuse. As a shield. Her son deserved more than that.

      ‘OK. I can understand that you want to protect your child—it’s not fair for a kid to get attached to an “uncle” who isn’t going to stick around,’ George said.

      He understood that?

      ‘Which isn’t me suggesting that you have a string of men parading through your life, either,’ he added.

      She felt the colour rise in her cheeks. So he didn’t think she was an easy conquest, either.

      ‘If anything, I get the impression you’ve gone completely the other way and you don’t normally date anyone. But having a child doesn’t mean that you can’t see anyone, Serena. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little fun in your life.’

      Exactly what her colleague Jess had said. She pushed temptation away. ‘I’m a working mum. I need to spend my free time with my son.’

      ‘Of course you do. But you need a little time for you, too,’ he said softly. He leaned forward, closing the gap between them, and brushed his lips against hers. Almost as if he was promising that nobody was going to get hurt by this.

      ‘Have lunch with me on Tuesday,’ he said, his voice soft and incredibly seductive.

      ‘I c—’ she began, and he pressed the tip of his finger lightly against her mouth, not letting her refuse.

      ‘I know you have patients to see, Serena, and you need to stick to your schedule at work. If you’re busy on Tuesday, we can make it another day. But we’re going to have lunch together next week. Just lunch. You, me, and—’ his eyes crinkled at the corners ‘—hopefully a little bit of sunshine.’

      How could she possibly resist an invitation like that?

      ‘Thank you,’ she said.

      ‘Are you vegetarian? Is there anything you really don’t like or are allergic to, foodwise?’

      ‘No to all three.’

      ‘Same here. Which makes life simpler. Good.’ He took a card from his wallet and scribbled a number on the back. ‘That’s my mobile. So I’ll see you on Tuesday at midday. If that’s a problem, text me with an alternative. My schedule’s reasonably flexible at the moment.’

      Her fingers touched his as she took the card, and it sent a shiver of desire all the way through her. Crazy. She’d managed to keep the attraction in check while he was her patient. Now he wasn’t her patient any more, all bets were off. And her mouth was still tingling from that kiss.

      He took the box from her desk and handed it to her. ‘Right. Now, this isn’t a gift from a grateful patient, so it isn’t covered by the rules and regulations. This is just a very small, no-strings gift from me to you.’

      She stared at him. ‘Why?’

      ‘Because I think you’ll like it. And I like putting a little bit of sunshine into people’s days.’ There was a glitter of something she couldn’t read in his eyes. ‘And it’s not for sharing, Serena. I meant it when I said it was just for you.’

      ‘May I open it now?’

      ‘No.’ He smiled. ‘Wait until I’ve gone.’ He stole another kiss. ‘Until Tuesday.’

      She sat down at her desk as he closed the door behind him and untied the ribbon.

      His gift turned out to be a small square box of the most exquisite dark chocolates. From Fortnum and Mason: the poshest grocery store in London, and quite possibly the poshest store in the world. That one small box of chocolates had probably cost him half as much as a whole week’s grocery shop for herself and Ethan.

      She’d never, ever been given something so decadent.

      How had George known that she loved dark chocolate? Or had it been one of the little things they’d chatted about during the weeks of his treatment, and he’d actually listened to what she’d told him?

      When Serena took the lid off the box and saw the chocolates nestled in dark brown frilled paper, and spied a crystallised violet on top of one smooth, dark, sinful chocolate—her absolute favourite flavour—she couldn’t resist taking it and biting off a corner. The bitterness of the smooth, rich chocolate was the perfect foil to the sweet floral fondant inside, and it took her breath away.

      Shockingly, it also reminded her of kissing him. Of the sweetness of his mouth in that sinfully dark kiss. She knew that she’d always associate violet creams with kissing George, from now on.

      And she really needed her head examined. Had she really agreed to meet him for lunch, next week? Had she really let him kiss her until she was dizzy?

      All the same, she finished the chocolate, then put the lid back on and slipped the box into her handbag before texting him to say thank you.

       This isn’t a gift from a grateful patient … This is just a very small, no-strings gift from me to you.

      Maybe.

      But would they be able to say the same about lunch?

      CHAPTER THREE

      SERENA just about managed to concentrate on her patients for the rest of the afternoon, and then went straight to her parents’ house to collect her son.

      ‘Mummy!’ Ethan flung himself at her, wrapping his arms round her legs and hugging her tightly. When he released her, Serena knelt down so she was at his level and could hug him back properly.

      ‘Did you have a nice day at school, darling?’

      ‘We played football. It was brilliant.’ He beamed at her. ‘And I drawed you a picture. Nanna made basghetti for tea. I helped stir the sauce.’

      Serena ruffled his hair; the fact that her five-year-old still couldn’t quite say the name of his favourite food still made her heart melt. She looked up at her mother. ‘Thanks, Mum.’

      ‘I’ve made a huge panful, so you’re staying to tea tonight. Don’t argue,’ Carolyn said with a smile.

      Serena smiled back, grateful that she wouldn’t have to cook dinner tonight. ‘You spoil me, Mum. Thank you.’

      ‘Can I help Granddad with his puzzle?’ СКАЧАТЬ