The Beautiful Widow - By Helen Brooks Page 0,42
She’d responded to him sexually that night in June, which was a start, and she’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her. He could make her love him. He’d been patient for months now, preparing the ground; this was the next stage. And to hell with the rule that he didn’t mix work and pleasure. Being the boss had to mean something and in this case it was that rules were breakable.
One of the things that had amazed him about her was the lack of bitterness about her former husband. In spite of the way he’d treated her, she didn’t hate the louse. True, it had made her wary and suspicious of the opposite sex, but that was to his advantage in a way. It kept the other wolves at bay.
He glanced down at her now, reaching out a hand and brushing a strand of hair from the silky skin of her cheek. He heard her quickly indrawn breath and his heart thumped crazily. Yes, she was far from indifferent to him as a man, but he didn’t want to just take this woman to bed. He wanted her. ‘Let’s go and get some lunch and you can tell me some of the ideas I know are already buzzing about in that clever little head of yours,’ he said smoothly. ‘I noticed a nice pub shortly before we turned off into this side road, which is called
Magpie Lane, incidentally. Appropriate address for a family house, don’t you think?’
It was a moment before she shrugged. ‘Magpies are quite vicious birds, aren’t they? Part of the crow family, I believe.’
‘They do what’s necessary to get by. Same as the rest of us. All’s fair in love and war.’
‘That’s such a male reply,’ she said stiffly.
‘But I am a male, Toni, and don’t tell me you haven’t noticed, an observant, intelligent woman like you. I’m very much a male and I make no apology for it.’ He opened the French doors as he spoke and when she stepped past him into the house he heard a muffled ‘Huh', which made the corners of his mouth twitch. He had no illusions winning her over was going to be easy; she was as prickly as a cactus with as many spikes for keeping him at bay, but he was going to strip those little spines away one by one until he got what he wanted, which was her, naked and pliant in his arms and wholly his, soul, mind and body.
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE PUB WAS ALL BRASSES and oak beams. Toni was not unaware of the little stir Steel caused in the two buxom barmaids, or the way they practically fought to serve him when he went to order drinks once they’d found a table close to the roaring log fire. He came back with a glass of wine for her and an apple juice for himself and two menus, sitting down and smiling at her as he murmured, ‘I’ve surprised you today, haven’t I?’
She eyed him warily. ‘A little, I suppose.’
‘Another surprise. I’ve decided we’ll take the day off.’
‘What?’ She sat up straighter. ‘What on earth for?’
‘It’s not often I decide to buy a house. I want to celebrate.’ His smile widened, a little like a shark’s. ‘Besides which, I want to get a few facts and figures clear in my head before I make an offer. If I got into the office there’s too much distraction.’
He saw her expression relax slightly. ‘Oh, I see. You mean we’ll still be working but on the ideas for this house.’
‘If you want to put it like that.’
Her brows came together for an instant and she took a sip of wine. ‘Steel—’
‘Decide what you want to eat so we can order and then you can tell me your plans for each room.’ He picked up his own menu and pretended to be absorbed in it, only raising his head when one of the barmaids came across with a pad and pencil to take their order, practically drooling as she looked at Steel.
The meal decided, he met her gaze. ‘So? Tell me your thoughts thus far.’ The flames from the crackling fire in the big old hearth were picking out the red tints in her dark brown hair, her pale creamy skin and red lips a delicious contrast. Before she could speak, he murmured, ‘Rose Red. From the fairy tale, you know? Has anyone ever told you that you look like Rose Red?’
She stared at him for a