Wild About the Man. Joss Wood

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СКАЧАТЬ into summer. It’s hot but it helps if you’re appropriately dressed. Shorts and T-shirts, yes. Tights and boots, no.’

      ‘Get me some water …’ Clem started to say please and sneezed instead. She watched his eyes narrow and she knew that he didn’t like spoilt, annoying, demanding women. Well, that suited her just fine because she didn’t like the fact that he made her skin prickle and …

      ‘No.’ Nick pointed at the plane. ‘Feel free to climb the stairs and get it yourself.’

      Clem shrugged and called up the stairs. ‘Jace? Please ask Chloe for a bottle of water for me, I’m melting.’

      ‘So, you do have a vague concept of what passes for rudimentary manners,’ Nick commented.

      Jason appeared at the top of the stairs, a bottle of water in his hand. He scooted down the stairs, handed it to Clem and sent Nick a sympathetic smile as he shook his hand and introduced himself. ‘Clem’s always impossible when she’s in a mood.’

      ‘I am not in a mood.’ Clem stamped her boot and dust billowed. She coughed and waved it away. ‘And if I were, I’m entitled!’

      ‘Not around me you’re not,’ Sherwood stated.

      ‘You are exceptionally rude.’

      ‘Ditto.’

      Clem gestured to his vehicle with her oversized glasses. It was more rust than paint and looked about fifty years old.

      ‘So, I suppose that’s your vehicle?’

      ‘It is.’

      Huh. Mr Talkative he was not. Normally, most men would be falling over by now, chatting her up, fluffing their feathers. He just stood there, looking sexy. And hot. And annoyed.

      Clem twisted the top of her bottle of water but the top held firm. After a couple more tries, Nick took the bottle, cracked the lid in one try and handed it back to her.

      ‘Thank you.’

      Nick smirked, which made Clem just want to poke him. ‘So, is it your job to pick up guests?’

      ‘Sometimes.’

      ‘And does your boss know you’re picking up guests in a battered, rusty car that looks like it’s about to fall apart? It’s not the right image for a luxury lodge.’

      Nick narrowed his eyes and folded his arms. The veins in his forearms raised his skin and she swallowed. She’d always found that physical indication of fitness sexy.

      ‘No, the guests are normally collected in the game viewing vehicles but they are all being used at the moment.’

      ‘It’s six in the evening. What are they being used for at this time of night?’

      ‘Oh, let’s think. We’re on a game reserve. What would game vehicles be used for …? Um, maybe game viewing?’

      Oh, could she sound any more stupid if she tried? Clem winced, looked down and kicked a loose stone with the toe of her boot. ‘There’s no need to be sarcastic,’ she muttered.

      ‘I haven’t even reached sarcastic yet.’

      Ooh, fighting talk. Clem snapped her head up. ‘Do you talk to all the guests like this?’

      ‘Not usually.’

      ‘So, why do I get your special treatment?’

      Nick stepped over to the Land Rover and yanked open the passenger door, ignoring the fact that the door was attached with just one hinge. ‘You’re not a guest. You’re me doing your father a favour. Get in.’

      ‘I don’t understand what you’re muttering about and my father won’t like your attitude. So check it or I will have you fired.’

      Clem caught the light roll of his eyes and realized that this man wasn’t in the least bit fazed by her unusually sharp tongue and simmering temper. She looked into his cool grey eyes and saw that he didn’t give a flying fig for what she thought.

      While she didn’t like him, her respect for him soared. When last had she met a man with a healthy ego?

      ‘Your father is old friends with my attitude and, unlike you, knows exactly how far he can push me. And, since I own The Baobab and Buffalo Lodge, your threats are both childish and unnecessary,’ Nick said in a cool, calm, measured tone. The lack of temper in his voice made her feel about two feet high.

      Was she ever going to win a round with this tall, rangy, muscly, grey-eyed demon?

      ‘Are you going to get your butt into the Landy or are you going to walk?’ His voice had fallen to sub-zero and she wished she could step inside it and cool down. She was quite certain there was a lake of perspiration in her boots.

      Clem ignored the hand he held out, looked at the vehicle and bit her lip. Her skirt was too tight and too short for her to step up onto the runner board. She needed to bend her leg to step up and if she did that, then the Odious Owner and the pilot would get a great view of her tights covered bottom.

      Clem cursed, looked at the runner board again and scratched her head.

      ‘Problem, Red?’

      He needed to visit charm school, Clem fumed. She turned to face him and because she was so tall—five foot seven without heels—she just needed to lift her eyes to connect with his. She was annoyed to find that she had to swallow the excess saliva in her mouth. Good grief, she’d met some of the best looking men in the world and none of them made her mouth water. The last time she’d had such a physical reaction was when she’d first seen Cai and look how well that had turned out.

      Not.

      You’re tired, upset and emotional. Nothing has been normal about this day, the last couple of days, she reminded herself. Nothing had been normal about the last ten years.

      Besides, any man would look good after what Cai did and said to you. Add it to the fact that she hadn’t had sex for close to a year and … whoosh! Chemical reaction.

      ‘We’re wasting daylight here,’ Nick snapped and Clem rubbed her forehead, trying to focus.

      ‘I can’t,’ she said. ‘Not without embarrassing myself and you. And Joe.’

      ‘What are you going on about?’

      Clem dropped her hands and pointed to the hem of her skirt. ‘It’s too tight and too short. I can’t lift my leg to get up without flashing.’

      Nick rubbed his hand down his face and Clem was pretty sure it was to cover his grin. She glared at him. ‘It’s not funny.’

      ‘Judging by the number of naked photos there are of you in cyberspace, I’m surprised at your modesty.’

      ‘Now, you’re the one being stupid. Haven’t you heard of Photoshop? Every one of those images out there is my head on someone else’s body.’

      Instead of looking chastised, Nick grinned and СКАЧАТЬ