Page 46 of Nigel

"I love you,"he whispered against her mouth, his breathing shallow. "Let itbe enough."

"Yes." hervoice was shaky as she clung to him. "Yes."

*****

He was trying to becool and he knew she realized it. He had left her to finish gettingdressed to come downstairs to make coffee.

He told himself thathe did not want to crowd her. She was here and they had talked andshe would be staying. Her case was an overnight one, but he wascertain she was going to go and get some more clothing. He was notgoing to suggest it.

"I made coffee,"he said unnecessarily. She looked coolly beautiful in her dark bluedress pants and baby blue cotton shirt. Her hair was combed back fromher face and secured with pins and she was wearing big silver hoopsin her lobes.

"Thanks. You arenot going in early?"

"I have abreakfast meeting at nine." He poured the coffee and handed herthe cup. He had woken her up earlier with his mouth on her body."There is a snag in the design that needs ironing out." Hesipped coffee and watched her take a seat around the glimmeringcounter. "What do you have on?"

"Interviewingsome prospective employees. During the summer, we get a lot moreclients. People going out of town who want their plants watered andsomeone to babysit their pets, that sort of thing.

One woman asked ifsomeone could house sit her. She is going to Europe on business fortwo weeks. The place is secure of course, but she prefers to havesomeone staying there in one of the guest rooms."

"I had no ideayou offered that kind of service."

"It's a firstand has given me the idea to introduce it. What do you think?"

He gave her asurprised look that she was asking.

"Do yourresearch and make certain that the person you are sending iscompletely trustworthy. You would not want to put someone there whohas a penchant for coveting people's things."

She nodded. "Iwould do it myself, but I have too many things going on. We run athorough background check on the people we employ. And some of theladies have been there for ages and would never think of stealing."

"Handpicksomeone you trust completely." He sipped coffee and stared ather.

"What?"

"Thanks."

"For?"

"Sharing. Itmakes me feel as if I am important to you."

She frowned at him."You don't trust me."

"It's not that."He blew out a breath. "I don't want to crowd you or send yourunning. You did not bring a lot of clothing." He shook hishead. "And I did tell myself that I would not say anything."

Putting away her cup,she rose and came around to him. Taking the cup from him, she turnedhim to face her. "It will take time. I hurt you pretty badly andyou are still wondering if I am sticking." She cupped his facebetween her palms.

"I am here and Icannot be anywhere else. It's strange for me because I never thoughtI would hook up with a rich guy and you are super rich. It is goingto take some getting used to. But-" She leaned in to kiss him.He tried to resist, to make it light, but as soon as her tonguetouched his lip, he was lost.

Clamping his handsaround her waist, he deepened the kiss, fingers racing up and downher back as he ravished her mouth. He was the one who ended the kiss,putting her firmly away from him.

"It'sbewildering," he said lightly, voice shaking. "You aregoing to be late."

"I am the boss."She moved back into his arms.

"Ava-"

"I think I am inlove with you."

His heart jolted andemotions flooded him, washing through his body like a light springrain.