New Year at the Boss's Bidding(8)

He opened the door of the bedroom at the end of the corridor and went  in, placed her bag at the foot of the bed and watched Tilly as she came  in. She moved around the room, her pleasure in its opulence showing in  her innocent delight at her surroundings.

'Are you sure I should be staying here?' she asked tentatively, as she  looked up at the four-poster bed, draped in cream and gold fabric. 'I'm  not strictly a guest.'

'I invited you to join me for dinner this evening, so now you are a  guest.' His tone was abrupt as he fought the emotions she stirred in  him. She glanced at him, questions and anxiety filling her beautiful  blue eyes.

'Not in the true sense,' she said softly, and moved towards the windows  and the ever-darkening view of the grounds. 'It's snowing even more  heavily now.'

As far as he was concerned, it could snow for days. Nothing was more  appealing than the thought of finding out more about Natalie Rogers. He  wanted to break down her barriers of professionalism and disciplined  organisation to discover the passionate woman behind them, because he  knew such a woman existed within her. Intuitively he sensed she was  different from any woman he'd ever dated. She had an earthly innocence  about her and was totally unaware of just how alluring she was.

'I will leave you to unpack.' He had to go now, before he pulled her  into his arms, because if he did, she wouldn't be slipping away from him  as easily as she had done earlier.

* * *

For the rest of the afternoon Tilly had worked hard, changing the menu  once more and setting the table in the grand dining room. Anything other  than think of the man she was effectively trapped here with. She should  feel worried, scared even. She hardly knew him, but there was something  between them, as if they did know one another and whatever it was she  was determined to ignore it.

It was dark now but she could still see the large flakes of snow  falling past the window, dashing any last hopes she'd had of leaving  later this evening for the bed and breakfast as planned.

She and Xavier were snowed in. It was so different from last year's  debacle and not at all what she needed. This New Year's Eve she would be  in the company of a man who set her pulse racing with just one dark and  brooding glance, something Jason had never done.

From the hallway she heard the tall elegant grandfather clock strike  seven and knew she couldn't put it off any longer. It was time to change  into the dress she planned to wear at Vanessa's engagement party-if she  ever got there.

The choice of an elegant black dress that oozed glamour and sex appeal  had seemed perfect as she'd tried it on in the shop. It would prove to  everyone that she'd moved on, grown up even. Now, with its plunging  back, it was completely inappropriate but, then, so was staying in jeans  and a jumper or even her uniform. She was worried what Xavier would  think. It was too much for their impromptu meal together, but it was all  she had.

Maybe Xavier wouldn't have changed. The thought gave her hope as she  crossed the hallway, glancing distractedly at the Christmas tree and  wondering who had opened presents from beneath its decorated branches  just a few days ago. She paused on the bottom step and reached out to  touch a sparkling gold decoration, her fingers sending it spinning, the  light catching it.

She longed for the day she could create the perfect Christmas for a  family of her own, but her childhood had made it difficult to allow love  into her life. With a sigh, she knew she might never have a family of  her own. She'd loved Jason, he had been her best friend, but he'd dumped  her, not even caring it had been their wedding day.                       
       
           



       

Christmas this year should have been their first as a married couple,  but instead it had been very quiet, which was for the best. Just as  taking this contract to get away from London had been. She'd been so  excited when the email had arrived, stating how highly recommended her  business was. It was just the boost the business needed.

Movement at the top of the stairs caught her attention and she glanced  up, instantly wishing she hadn't. Xavier stood there, watching her  moment of reflection. He was dressed in a full evening suit that all but  clung to his body, accentuating his height and the broad width of his  shoulders. The image he created was one of perfection, straight out of a  movie.

He was devastatingly handsome. Just seeing him like this did untold  things to her heart rate, setting off a ripple of flutters inside her  stomach. A dart of panic rushed through her, quashing those  inappropriate thoughts. She was going to have to spend the evening with  this man and engage in conversation in a setting that was far too  intimate. What had she got herself into?

He began to descend the stairs, his gaze locking with hers, and once  again that movie moment made her feel light-headed. His lithe yet  powerful movements were something she'd never seen in a man other than  on the big screen. Had she slipped from the real world the moment she'd  crossed the threshold of Wimble Manor?

'Buona sera,' he said, as he stopped on the same stair she was  currently rooted to, his dark eyes full of knowing amusement. A little  spike of anger darted through her. He knew full well he created an image  women craved and right now was exploiting it to its full potential.  Well, it wasn't going to work on her.

'I'm just going to change.' The throaty whisper that came from her sent  a blush to her cheeks and she resisted the urge to flee and run  upstairs as fast as she could. Instead she smiled at him in the most  professional way possible.

'I'll wait for you in the lounge.' His sensual accent stirred new  sensations deep within her, but outwardly she remained composed. She had  to. To show him anything else would be a mistake.

'I will be as quick as I can,' she said lightly, and began to walk  calmly up the stairs, while inside she fought the urge to bolt like a  startled animal.

'Take your time, Natalie.'

She closed her eyes as she heard her name spoken so beautifully. She  knew he was still watching her. Her skin tingled from his intense gaze  and with every step she took it became harder to ignore, but she  wouldn't give him the satisfaction of turning around yet. As she reached  the top of the stairs and looked down at him, their positions reversed,  her heart hammered so loudly it almost echoed around the old walls of  the manor.

She wanted to give him a curt reply, show him his charm didn't work with her, but her ability to speak had deserted her.

He smiled, his brows lifting suggestively, and the full force of his power washed over her. 'We have all night, no?'

She blinked at the deeper meaning in those seductively accented words.  If he thought she would just fall meekly into the role of his new  conquest, simply because she was the only woman available, he was very  much mistaken. 'I will join you when I'm ready.'

With that she flounced away, his soft and incredibly sexy laugh  following her along the corridor. This wasn't what she'd planned for New  Year's Eve. After Jason had abandoned her, she'd wanted nothing more  from this New Year's Eve than to hide behind her new business and away  from friends who thought they knew just what she needed.

She walked into her room, flicked on the lamps and drew the heavy  curtains against the cold night and turned her attention to her dress.  How could she wear that tonight? In the company of a man-her client-who  made her feel and think things she had no right to? He was dangerous.  She had no idea why, no reasons to justify it. But she sensed it.

Was she reading more into their exchanges, allowing her head to be  turned by his charm? Was her judgement coloured by the almost undeniable  attraction she felt for him? He'd only flirted mildly with her and she  knew a man like him, who had his pick of high-flying beauties, wouldn't  be interested in her. Not only was she a jilted bride but she was a  virgin, far too inexperienced.

She may be supressing the attraction which had simmered to life since  the moment she'd arrived here, but he was being the playboy he was  reputed to be.

'You'll do well to remember that, Tilly Rogers,' she said to her  reflection, as she looked at the gorgeous black silk dress that had  transformed her from hired staff to dinner guest.

She thought of Xavier in the tailored suit that had instantly increased  that sizzle of attraction for him. Would he feel the same when he saw  her in this dress? Would he think she was attractive? Would he want her?  She smiled at the notion of him falling for her as if they were playing  out their own fairy-tale.                       
       
           



       

Annoyed at the direction her thoughts had taken, she twisted her hair  into something that resembled a chignon, wishing she'd brought her tried  and tested smart black dress instead of this extravagant number that  had no place in her life. She didn't know what she'd been thinking when  she'd bought it. Glamour and sophistication weren't in her genetic  make-up.