He nodded, almost as though he’d anticipated her objection. “Fine. Let’s open negotiations. If we hire a housekeeper to handle the domestic chores—cooking and cleaning—all you’d need to do is delegate and supervise.”
“That would be a definite improvement. As for Mikey, you still need a part-time nanny to cover for—” She started to say “me” and smoothly changed gears. “To cover for your fiancée/wife when she’s entertaining or meeting with the decorator. Or knowing you, dealing with the slew of additional tasks you’ll undoubtedly dump on her.”
“Keesha is a temporary full-time hire. She made that clear from the beginning. Apparently, she has a mother who isn’t well and needs her assistance. But I’ve already asked if she’d be available for part-time work and she’s agreed. Does that satisfy you?”
Angie inclined her head. Now for the more distasteful part of the arrangement. Though she didn’t want to ask about the financial end of their bargain, if she didn’t address the issue, he’d suspect something was off. “You mentioned payment. Just out of curiosity, how much are we talking?” He named a figure that made her grateful she was sitting. It took her an instant to gather her wits sufficiently to ask, “And if the job doesn’t work out?”
He shrugged. “Then you could return to your position as my PA, with a comfortable bonus for your efforts. No hard feelings on either side.”
She simply looked at him. “You know better than that, Lucius. If our relationship falls apart on the personal side of things it would have a serious effect on any future working relationship. What happens if one or the other of us wants to sever all ties? I’d be giving up a job I love, a career that’s important to me, and for what? To be your domestic goddess?”
He chuckled, the sound sliding through her like a velvet touch. “Is that what I’m hiring? A domestic goddess?”
“Actually, the job title should be domestic slave.” Angie leaned back, relaxing for the first time since the start of their discussion. She took a bracing sip of wine, a cool, refreshing Fumé Blanc. It helped steady her for the next topic of conversation. “There’s one part of this job we haven’t discussed.”
“Which is?”
“Sex.”
“Ah.” An expression came into his eyes, one that had her throat going dry and a hot pool of want forming in her belly. Waves of it lapped outward, roiling and seething in endless demand. “How could I have neglected something so vital?”
“I gather that’s a ‘yes.’”
“No.”
She stiffened, shocked by his answer. Had she miscalculated? Had she read more into the night they’d had dinner with Gabe Moretti? Had he considered their kiss a mild and forgettable flirtation, easily dismissed, while she’d built it up into something far more serious and memorable?
“Not a yes?” she asked faintly.
“No, not a yes,” he responded gravely, “but rather a hell, yes.”
Her mouth twitched and a laugh escaped before she could control it. Then she realized that it wasn’t funny. Not considering her issues. Not considering that she’d planned to approach Gabe Moretti over this very problem. Her laughter died and she regarded him with nervous apprehension.
“What’s wrong?” His eyes narrowed. “You must realize that if we’re going to become engaged, probably married, that a sexual relationship would be an important part of the equation.”
She lifted a shoulder in what she hoped was a casual shrug. “You didn’t mention it as one of your conditions, so I can only assume it’s not a very important part.”
“Allow me to prove otherwise.”
Before she could react, he took her hand and gave a quick tug. Unable to resist, she tumbled straight into his arms, straight into his mouth…and straight into heaven.
Five
It took only that one kiss for Angie to confirm that her first embrace with Lucius hadn’t been a fluke. That if anything, the explosive desire was more intense, searing them in endless heat. She couldn’t get enough, didn’t think she’d ever get enough. Not of Lucius. Not of his touch, his unique taste.
His mouth moved on hers, a blatant taking, and she moaned in pleasure. He offered endless possibilities on every front. The chance to be a mother. To be a wife. To form a relationship with the man she loved. And maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to explore the sexual side of her nature without fear of rejection.